Customer Reviews

Hitty: Her First Hundred Years

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some confusion is probably created by Amazon.com's policy of repeating staff and reader reviews in the listings for every version of a book--even when the versions are substantially different from each other, as in this case. Amazon sells one version of "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years" that is an unchanged reprint of the original 1929 book. The reprint, like the original, has an orange-and-tan patterned cover. But Amazon also sells a newer, substantially revised, version of "Hitty." The same reviews appear with both versions, although they are essentially different books. (They share a title, but their texts and illustrations are different.) I wanted to clarify this point for customers who, like me, are looking for the original version of this book.

My mother passed her copy onto me and now it has passed to my daughter. I buy copies for all my nieces. It's a real treasure. The text is marvelous and the illustrations are never to be forgotten. I understand there's a new version out, but I can't imagine it holding a candle to the original (I haven't heard good things). I have so many wonderful memories of that book: Hitty stuck in the horsehair couch, life with the little Quaker girl, weeks spent in a crow's nest. It brought my own traditional dolls (not Barbie!) alive for me. It also presents a vivid historical portrait of the lives of American girls. Don't let this one go out of print!

This book was interesting and fun to read. Ride along with, the doll, as she tells her life story. Watch as she goes from one owner to the next. This book is an adventure to read. Hitty has seen so much you forget she is a doll. This book pulles you in like a vacuum cleaner. You'll love it when she travles to New York. You'll jump out of your seat when she goes whale hunting or when she gets stuck in a tree. There is a couple of settings but it doesn't jump around. The message that i got out of the story is live life to it's fullest I would recomend this book to preteen girls that like history and fiction. This book was fantabouls!!!!!!!!!!

After reading some of the other reviews, I feel myself fortunate to have read Hitty in the original. I was unaware it had been edited. I can't think of anything offensive, other than one passage of dialogue spoken by a black family, which might sound sterotypical to modern ears. But, similar dialogue occurs in Huckleberry Finn. Has that been "scrubbed"? I don't think so.

Anyhow, what a beautiful story. It's really interesting to see the world from her point of view. She spent years hidden away in a couch, among other places, which was like a time machine for her. I had fun answering this question: Did Hitty know that by the time she was sold at auction in the Preble house, that she had outlived Phoebe? That Phoebe had grown up, married, had children and died? She never says so, but I think she does know. She has the strength and maturity not to have to be explict. I really hope Hitty had warm, fond memories of her first owner, Phoebe.

This book was extraordinary. I usually don't trust the library's choice of books, but in this I was mistaken. I completed the book in two days-and one was a school day! In parts I almost cried, but in the next instant, I could rejoice and cheer for the brave, spirited little Hitty. Some of the charecters I wish I knew more about -Andy, my favorite charecter, as a start- but it made it more realistic-Hitty would concnetrate most on her current owner, I suppose. That's really it's only flaw that I could find. Good reading!

Hitty is a very small wooden doll carved out of mountain-ash (for good luck) in Maine by a kindly pedlar, in gratitude for winter hospitality, then given to the young daughter of the New England sea captain. This charming story is told in the first person by a modest and pleasantly-philosophical doll with a perpetual smile. During her first century as a toy she survives an incredible catalog of dangers, countless owners (not all little girls, either) and numerous narrow escapes.

Hitty is privileged to travel the world from bombay to New Orleans, although in her heart she years for her native Maine. She also meets many famous personalities of the 19th century: the opera singer Adellina Patti, novelist Charles Dickens, and poet John Greenleaf Whittier. Her fortunes range from being worshipped as a goddess by pagan islanders, to posing as doll of fashion.

She endures trials by water, fire, and plain neglect. Poor patient Hitty is lost, stolen, borrowed, displayed, auctioned, abused, and hidden. But she endures her fate with gentle stocisim and ends by writing a journal about her adventures. The only pride she allows herself is for the fact that her name, HITTY, is still visible on the hem of her petticoat, in red cross stitches. We follow each detail of her story and keep hoping: yes, now she will have a good owner, the last one who will care for her properly and give her the love and respect which she deserves. But no one can write the final chapter on an antique--especially who charms by her stature and smile. This is a delightful book with many historical details which will touch the reader.

Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, as originally written by Rachel Field in 1929, is delightful. The story follows the adventures of a doll, carved by a peddler from a piece of mountain ash, as told in her own words. From being proclaimed a "heathen" goddess on a South Seas Island, traveling with a snake charmer in India, being alternately a fashion plate and a demure Quakeress in the midst of the Civil War, Hitty and her story are truly captivating. Rachel Field has given the world a wonderfully exciting and deeply touching glimpse at history through the eyes of this remarkable doll. The charm of this old fashioned story is enduring, powerful enough to endear itself to each new generation of readers that discovers it.

I read it when I was 10 years old and I still love it . Get a copy today.(I'm 70)

I have been meaning to read Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field (illustrated wonderfully in what I assume is pen and ink by Dorothy P. Lathrop) for a rather long time. Several years ago my mother bought me a reproduction Hitty doll by Robert Raikes (big deal carver of dolls and bears though he no longer seems to be making Hitty dolls).

After buying the doll, and doing a bit of research, we found an edition of Field's novel with the original 1929 text and illustrations. There is another, newer, edition with updated text by Rosemary Wells and illustrations by Susan Jeffers. The newer book came out, I believe, to celebrate the seventieth anniversary of Field's original novel. I never read this version, actually sending it back upon realizing it was an adaptation, but other reviewers' outrage at the changes suggest I was right to do so. If you haven't guessed already, Hitty fans are numerous and loyal.

Hitty, amazingly, was real. [...] is but one site dedicated to chronicling the life and history of this amazing doll. The site includes the picture of a Daguerreotype actually mentioned in the novel as well as a variety of other interesting photos and well-researched facts.

As the subtitle suggests, Hitty is already a centenarian at the start of Field's fictionalized account of her adventures. Safely ensconced in a New York antique store equipped with quill and paper, Hitty decides it is high time to begin setting her story down for posterity. What follows is a children's novel that truly deserves the Newberry Medal it received in 1930 for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."

Hitty begins her life as a lucky piece of mountain-ash wood carried by an old peddler. In exchange for lodging during a particularly bad Maine winter, the Old Peddler decides to carve his piece of wood into a doll for the family's seven-year-old child, Phoebe Preble. Hitty and Phoebe have their share of adventures during their time together. More, it might be argued, than one doll could manage (including a section that reads very much like part of Moby Dick geared to a much younger audience). But, as readers realize soon enough, Hitty is no ordinary doll. As the story progresses, Hitty passes through many hands and a variety of owners. Like most things, some owners prove better than others in the same way that certain events of Hitty's life are more worthy of space in her memoirs than others.

When you realize that this book is from 1929, well before any other doll novels were published, it becomes clear that Hitty is something special because Field did it first. At first, I thought the novel might come off as dated since it was written so long ago. But I was happily proven wrong and found that the text stood up to my modern standards as well as Hitty's chemise survives her first century. Many of the insights that Hitty expresses throughout the book remain very accurate to this day. Hitty's calm demeanor and buoyant spirit also help to make this doll downright lovable.

Field's prose is wonderful. Even though I knew Hitty was safe in the antique shop, each new peril left me fearing for Hitty and in a state of suspense until I found out if she had survived. The people that Hitty passes during the course of her first century are equally well-realized in the text. In terms of classic children's literature (especially for a younger child), I can't think of many better examples.

If, you want still more Hitty, you can check out Gail Wilson's website. This very talented (and expensive) doll makers features her own version of Hitty available both ready-made and as a kit.

Hitty Her First Hundred Years was inspired by a real doll. This doll is currently displayed in the Stockbridge Mass. Library Museum. Many readers have wished they could have their own special doll like Hitty. From 1830 til today doll artists have attempted to make their version of this doll. Some of the most famous names in doll making have attempted to capture her spirit.

I have a photo of this orinial Hitty doll posted on my wood doll web page:

If you compare the original doll with the illustrations in the book, you must note how well Dorothy Lathrop captured the sweet, Mona Lisa type smile of this doll.