The Doll's House [Hardcover]

Rumer Godden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1976

The activities, sorrows, and joys of a family of dolls living in an old doll house are related from the dolls' point of view.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rumer Godden was one of the UK's most distinguished authors. She wrote many well-known books for adults and children, including THE STORY OF HOLLY AND IVY and THE DIDDAKOI, which won the Whitbread Children's Book Award in 1972. Rumer was awarded the OBE in 1993 and died in 1998, aged ninety. Christian Birmingham is one of the most outstanding children's book illustrators of his generation. He has been shortlisted for the Mother Goose Award, the Kurt Maschler Award, the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Smarties Book Prize. His line drawings illustrate many best-selling novels by Michael Morpurgo. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Peter Smith Pub Inc (September 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084466801X
• ISBN-13: 978-0844668017
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,954,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite children's classic, June 8, 2005

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Doll's House (Paperback)

Rumer Godden, the author of those absorbing novels about nuns of yesteryear, "Black Narcissus" and "In This House of Brede," both successfully filmed with Deborah Kerr and Diana Rigg respectively, tries her hand here at a book for younger readers. This is the tale of a doll "family," not related by biology but the simple fate of being thrown together. Although there are nominal mother and father dolls, the real head of the household is Tottie, a wooden farthing doll, wise beyond her childish appearance. The dolls' relative happiness and the way it is threatened by the appearance of Marchpane, an expensive, arrogant and, as it turns out, really malevolent interloper, makes for surprisingly gripping drama. Indeed, the tale of Marchpane's machinations and the tragic climax of the story may be too intense for younger or more sensitive children, for whom this book needs to be introduced with care. For the rest of them, and for adults who simply like a good story, "The Dolls' House" still exerts its considerable spell. Tasha Tudor's illustrations are a notable contribution as well.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was better than I remembered it being., November 19, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Doll's House (Paperback)

Fortunate to have read this book at the age of ten, I never forgot it. Having recently read some of Rumer Godden's adult books, I decided to purchase a copy. The money I paid was well worth it. The book is still a wonderful read. If you are an adult who read it as a child, re-read it. If you've never read it, you will enjoy the drama about a family whose home and happiness are threatened and how they dealt with it. This is a must-read for all Godden fans. All her storytelling skills are used, deft foreshadowing, proper use of detail and strong dramatic scenes. It was written for children but it can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys fine writing.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful complex characters, September 24, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Doll's House (Paperback)

Quite affecting. A very rich story of the "family-dynamics" in an antique doll-house. Perhaps best read to the younger child (under 10). There are some very complex emotions at play. My 7 year old burst into tears at Birdie's "sacrifice". Still it's important for young readers to experience a full range of emotions when reading, espcecially as they move into chapter books