The Silver Sword [Import] [Hardcover]

I. SERRAILLIER (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: CAPE (1956)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0224606778
• ISBN-13: 978-0224606776
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,413,057 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ian Serraillier (September 24, 1912 - November 28, 1994), was a British novelist and poet. Serraillier was best known for his children's books, especially the Silver Sword (Novel) (1956), a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1957 and again in 1971.

Born in London, Serraillier was educated at Brighton College, and took his degree at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He became an English teacher, first at World War II. It was during this period that his first published work appeared, in the form of poetry for both adults and children. In 1946 his first children's novel was published. It was followed by several more adventure stories of treasure and spies. His best known work, The Silver Sword, was published in 1956 and has become a classic, bringing to life the story of four refugee children and their search for their parents in the chaos of Europe immediately after World War II.

As well as children's novels and poetry, Serrailler produced his own retellings of classic tales, in prose and verse, including Beowulf, Chaucer and Greek myth. Together with his wife Anne he founded the New Windmill Series in 1948, published by Heinemann Educational Books, which set out to provide inexpensive editions of good stories. He continued as co-editor of the series until the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of a family's love, and survival in War-torn Poland, February 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Silver Sword (Hardcover)

I read this book several years ago, but still enjoy favorite reading it. Most books I never read twice, yet this book has transformed me into wanting to read it over and over again. It is a fascinating story of four young children, who over four years travel across Europe in search of their father. Their father, trapped in a prison, has finally escaped, yet to a Warsaw now reduced to little more than rubble. His home was bombed, and his children are missing. He meets Jan, a street urchin and orphan, who helps him "jump" a train. Ruth, Edek, and their younger sister, the three children, now live across Warsaw waiting for their Father's return. When Edek, the only one with a 'job' (smuggling food) is sent to a labor camp, Ruth and her younger sister suffer. Finding the street urchin, Jan, is the only reason they were able to survive. He helps them leave their home, the small cellar of a bombed building in search of their father. After finding Edek in his camp, and convincing the guards to let him go, they resume their dangerous journey. They find a kind farmer and his family, who lets them live on their farm. When a patrolman comes to the farm, the farmer sends the children in canoes down a river. Several Nazis, and trucks deporting 'border-jumpers' almost catch the canoeing children, and Jan's dog Ludwig. They reach Switzerland, where they planned on meeting their parents. A new life and beginning await the three siblings, and Jan, the adopted son. This was a beautiful story of love and devotion of a small, poor Polish family living during WWII. I definately recommend this book for those who want a wonderful story to read with their families.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Silver Sword, May 30, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Silver Sword (Hardcover)

The Author is Ian Serraillier an it's published by Puffin.
The story is about a family that is seperated during the war and Joseph goes looking for his wife in Switzerland and a few years later the children go looking for there parents they are Ruth,Edek,Bronia and they find a kind helping follower that has got no parents and that is Jan.Jan is my favourite character cause he is daring.Ruth is my least favourite character cause all she does is just and worry.My favourite bit is when Jan gives Bistro the chimp a cigar.The least favourite bit is when the boat crash's.I would reccomend it to all ages from 5 to 13 year olds.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for the ages, January 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Silver Sword (Audio Cassette)

I mistakenly checked this book out of the library when I was in 4th grade (1964), thinking it was going to be about knights ("The Silver Sword"). Imagine my surprise when, upon reading the first page, I discovered it was about a young boy (my age) separated from his family during WWII. Yet, even that first page sucked me in. I was not an avid, or even a good reader at that age, but I couldn't put it down, and finished the book in two days. I proceeded to check it out at least once a year until I could no longer find it in libraries. It was probably the single biggest reason I learned to love reading. My son is now in 4th grade, and I logged on to see if I could find it, and will make sure it becomes a part of his life as well.