Rakkety Tam [Import] [Paperback]

Brian Jacques (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: London, United Kingdom: Puffin Books (2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141381590
• ISBN-13: 978-0141381596
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)

More About the Author

A well-known radio personality in his native Liverpool--as well as an actor, stand-up comic, and playwright--Brian Jacques (1939-2011) was the host of "Jakestown" on BBC Radio Merseyside. Ever the performer, Jacques was well-known for applying his acting and entertainment background to his lively presentations to legions of young fans at schools across the United States and England. Brian Jacques was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact. He grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks. His interest in adventure stories began at an early age with reading the books of: Daniel Defoe, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Thomas Malory, Robert Michael Ballantyne, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and Kenneth Grahame. He attended St. John's School, an inner city school that had its playground on the roof. On his first day at St. John's, at the age of ten, he had an experience that marked his potential as a writer. When given an assignment of writing a story about animals, he wrote about the bird that cleaned a crocodile's teeth. The teacher could not, and would not, believe that a ten year old could write that well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then, that he realized that he had a talent for writing. "My favourite teacher was Mr. Austin Thomas. He looked like Lee Marvin. Big Man. A Captain in World War II. He came to school on a big bush bike with the haversack on back. He was a man's man. Always fair. I was fourteen at the time when Mr. Thomas introduced the class to poetry and Greek literature. (Because of him, I saved seven shillings and sixpence to buy The Iliad and The Odyssey at this dusty used book shop.)" This interest in poetry extended to Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Goldsmith. It was also at St. John's that Brian met a teacher, Alan Durband (who also taught two Beatles, Paul McCartney and George Harrison), who, more than thirty years later would bring about a major change in his life. After Brian finished school at fifteen, he set out to find adventure as a merchant seaman. He travelled to many far away ports, including New York, Valparaiso, San Francisco, and Yokohama. Tiring of the lonely life of a sailor, he returned to Liverpool where he worked as a railway fireman, a longshoreman, a long-distance truck driver, a bus driver, a boxer, a bobby (Police Constable 216D), a postmaster, and a stand-up comic. Jacques passed away in February of 2011 at the age of 71.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more of the same, please!, March 21, 2005

By 

P. Brodersen (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rakkety Tam (Redwall, Book 17) (Hardcover)

I will shock many reviewers and readers of these books to state that I am over 50, and still enjoying the stories as much as ever. I am confused by several of the reviewers who find this "much the same" - of course. What would one expect to find in a "Redwall" series book than resourceful, brave, small peace-loving critters facing immense odds of evil beasts? This is exactly why one reads the Redwall books - to discover again how the master tale-teller Jacques has woven new characters around the perennial themes of good and evil, friendship and loyalty vs fear and slavery. While true none of the main characters is a casualty in this story, many good creatures die in the course of the tale, and we see several give their lives for their friends - the colonel and the corporal, in different battles.

I started reading Redwall to my children 12 years ago, and have continued to collect all of the books by Brian Jacques, enjoying them mostly myself, although a strong advocate when asked for a reference. I would highly recommend them to "kids" of all ages - only cautioning that the language will stretch younger vocabularies (especially in the earlier books), and that these are not "gentle" books where no one dies. Rose and many others do not survive, and the realism presented in the stories adds greatly to the impact of the books.

If one wants to read about other characters and stories, there are many out there. If you want strong characters, challenging reading, themes of bravery and self-sacrifice, and descriptions of feasting that makes me hungry to write about, these are the best around. Enjoy!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting New "Tail" from Jaques, October 25, 2004

By 

Mariel (Eau Calire, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rakkety Tam (Redwall, Book 17) (Hardcover)

I have been a Brian Jauqes devotee since I picked "Redwall" in fifth grade. Now,as a 21-year old college student, I still get excited when a new book in the series comes out.

I agree that the last few books plots' have been formulaic, but "Rakkety Tam" breaks the mold and showcases the wonderful comraderie of Jaques' animal heros and villans in a fresh way. I partciularally enjoyed reading the good-natured banter between the squirrel Northerners Rakkety Tam and Doogy Plumm. They are interseting charcters and Jaques captures their accents down to a tee!

"Rakkety Tam" features more violent battles than in previous books, but they mirror the more violent battles going on in the world today.

All in all, this book was a wonderful! I recomend it to anyone who is looking for a story to chuckle and and cheer over, no matter if they need a "silent reading" text for grade-school or are seeking a study-break from Mid-terms!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'll never get sick of Redwall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, March 8, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Rakkety Tam (Redwall, Book 17) (Hardcover)

Have you ever read a book that you never want to finish? Well, I have. Brian Jacques masterpiece Rakkety Tam captured me with its suspense, adventure, and captivating description. Gulo the Savage wants to take over The Northern Sea, but first he has to find the Walking Stone which his cowardly brother stole. Meanwhile, Rakkety Tam and his companion, Doogy Plumm, are on a mission to find a flag for the squirrel queen. They end up at Redwall. Gulo and his crew hear about Redwall and are after its riches. Will the peaceful Redwall critters, with the help of Salamandastron hares, and Rakkety Tam, and Doogy, keep Redwall and defeat Gulo the Savage? They faced many problems throughout their journey to defeat Gulo. First, Rakkety Tam leads Gulo into the Pines where the blackbirds are. The blackbirds killed or injured many critters on each side. Then they went barreling down a fast-flowing river on a log and turned just before falling off a waterfall. Gulo couldn't stop so he went over with some of his band. Throughout the book Rakkety Tam learned how to be a better warrior, companion, and friend. In my opinion the author's message is that by helping others you'll help yourself, and accomplish many things. So, I rate this five stars because of its suspense, adventure, and amazing description. If you ever read this book you'll agree with me that this book is truly enthralling.