Nobody's Boy [Hardcover]

Hector H. Malot (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

The book has no illustrations or index. Purchasers are entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Subjects: Adventure and adventurers; History; Grandfathers; Orphans; France; 19th century; Juvenile Fiction / General; Juvenile Fiction / Action

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hector Malot (1830-1907) was a French writer born in La Bouille, Seine-Maritime. He studied law in Rouen and Paris, but eventually literature became his passion. He worked as a dramatic critic for Lloyd Francais and as a literary critic for L'Opinion Nationale. His first book, published in 1859, was Les Amants. In total Malot wrote over 70 books. By far his most famous book is Sans Famille (Nobody's Boy, 1878), which deals with the travels of the young orphan Remi, who is sold to the streetmusician Vitalis at age 10. Sans Famille gained fame as a children's book, though it was not originally intended as such. He announced his retirement as an author of fiction in 1895, but in 1896 he returned with the novel L'amour Dominateur as well as the account of his literary life Le Roman de mes Romans (The Novel of my Novels).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 301 pages
• Publisher: Buccaneer Books (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899667600
• ISBN-13: 978-0899667607
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,334,572 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book, August 13, 2001

By 

Timothy Le (WA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody's Boy (Hardcover)

This is a book in my father's collection. I read it when I was 8 or 9 and just read it again recently. In Vietnamese, it is translated as: "Khong Gia Dinh" or "Vo Gia Dinh", meaning "No Family". It is a masterpiece in literature, and it is still in print in Vietnam. It makes a wonderful children book and a deeply moving and meaningful story for the adults as well.

It is a story about an orphan boy, abandoned by his family. He was raised by his kind adopted mother, and was sold by his adopted father in hardship to a traveling man who eventually, became his teacher and a father-figure. With his teacher, he learned to play music and perform on the street with 3 intelligent dogs and a monkey. He traveled through the towns of France, and through life twist and turn, eventually, lead to the ultimate search for his real family.

The book provides insightful description of life on the street and heart warming relationship through life struggles and survival.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A BOOK YOU WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER, December 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Nobody's Boy (Hardcover)

NOBODY'S BOY was introduced to me in elementary school while growing up in Holland. It was one of the best books I had ever read and my parents gave it to me for 'Sinterklaas', which is a day on which we exchanged presents. The translated Dutch title is "Alone in the world". It's a story about a boy without a family, his ups and downs and his remarkable character.For some reason the book got lost while we moved to the U.S.A., but I never forgot the story.
Not too long ago (I'm 74 years old now) I realized I would never be able to read the book again, because I did not remember the author. "Never mind" said the librarian, "just type in the Dutch title and we might be able to find it". Sure enough, there it was on the computer screen :"Nobody's Boy", by Hector Malot.

The librarian ordered it for me and we (my husband and I) enjoyed it even more than in our youth. Our two sons and their children have also read it and it's on their list of favorite books.

We will now buy it and add this wonderful book to our library at home.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless Reading, June 9, 2003

By 

"pollyw99" (Little Falls, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nobody's Boy (Hardcover)

I have been looking for this book since grade school, which makes about 30 years! I wasn't sure of the name of the author but took a chance and ordered anyway. I was delighted to find it was the same book I had loved so many years ago. A poignant and touching story about a boy looking for his family, it was a book I couldn't put down. Vivid and stirring, well written, touching ... all describe this wonderful book. I highly recommend it for any age.