Stolen Lake, The [Paperback]

Joan Aiken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1988

Dido Twite, heroine of "Black Hearts in Battersea" and "Nightbirds on Nantucket", is on her wildest adventure yet. On her way back to London aboard the Thrush, Dido and crew are summoned to the aid of the tyrannical queen of New Cumbria. Her island is an infernal place where birds carry off men and fish eat human flesh. The queen is greatly distressed because a neighbouring king has stolen her lake. Dido faces fire, flood, wild beasts and, ultimately, threat of execution in order to get the lake back. Is she equal to the challenge? This title is a rich mixture of legend, fantasy, humour and pure snowballing adventure.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The author is better at creating villains than anybody since Dickens." — Time Magazine (Time Magazine ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Joan Aiken, daughter of the American writer Conrad Aiken, was born in Rye, Sussex, England, and has written more than sixty books for children, including The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Yearling (February 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440400376
• ISBN-13: 978-0440400370
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,829,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joan Aiken (1924-2004) was the daughter of Pulitzer prize winning poet Conrad Aiken and started writing herself from the age of five. During her lifetime she published over one hundred books for children and adults, including the acclaimed Wolves of Willoughby Chase series. In the UK she received an MBE from the Queen for her services to Children's Literature.

This year sees the publication of a brand NEW story collection - The Monkey's Wedding - with previously unpublished material that shows Aiken on top form. This collection of funny, spooky, unexpected but classic Aiken stories has received wonderful reviews and will delight her readers. See below for details.

Her work continues to be adapted for film and television; she is established as a consummate storyteller,and recognized as one of the best loved authors of the twentieth century.

"The Wonderful World of Joan Aiken" is at www.joanaiken.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the best of the Dido Twite Series, August 16, 2001

By 

James Bow "Writer, The Unwritten Girl" (Kitchener, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stolen Lake (Paperback)

Of the many reasons to read the works of Joan Aiken, two stand out: the irresistable pluckiness of the heroines (especially Dido Twite), and Joan's marvellously detailed alternate history of the planet Earth.

An alternative history is one of the staples of science fiction. What if the Nazis had won World War II? Or what if the South had won the American civil war? These subjects have consumed many a book. But Joan Aiken is unique, in my view, because she has crafted a detailed alternate history of England and America, and has used it as the backdrop, rather than the focus, of the story. Just take it for granted that the Stuarts managed to keep a hold of the English crown. This is just one of many ingredients in Joan Aiken's stories.

But in "The Stolen Lake", Joan's alternative history writing is at its most creative, and that pushes its prominence forward in the book. Rather than fading into history, the ancient kingdom of Arthur and the remains of the Roman Empire stole the boats of the invading Saxons and fled to South America where they founded "Roman" (as opposed to "Latin") America. King Arthur still sleeps, but Queen Guenivere has basically sold her soul to keep herself alive through the 1300 years, awaiting her husband's return. Into this, the young and plucky Dido Twite arrives, and upsets the corrupt regime.

This only scratches the surface of the detail of "The Stolen Lake". Alternative history buffs, fans of King Arthur tales, and fans of the plucky Dido Twite will find plenty to enjoy in this richly detailed tale that is a standout of Joan Aiken's books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Harry Potter, you'll love Dido Twite!, August 23, 2000

By 

Sherry Chiger "schiger" (New Rochelle, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Stolen Lake (Hardcover)

Dido Twite, the quick-witted (and sharp-tongued) heroine of "Black Hearts in Battersea" and "Nightbirds on Nantucket," is back in this sequel. During the mythical reign of Britain's King George IV, the ship carrying 12-year-old Dido from Nantucket back to England is ordered to stop off in New Cumbria, a mysterious South American nation ruled by a suspiciously ancient queen. Is she, as she claims, the widow of King Arthur? If so, how has she managed to survive the centuries? And why aren't there any girls Dido's age in the entire country? For that matter, why did the midshipman of Dido's vessel take ill as soon as they arrived in port? With the same entertaining blend of Cockney common sense and sheer gutsiness that saw her through her earlier adventures, Dido manages to get to the bottom of things--saving an imprisoned princess and, yes, restoring a "stolen" lake in the bargain. All in all, a fun, fast, rollicking read for youngsters and adults alike.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ongoing adventures of Dido Twite, August 20, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Stolen Lake (Hardcover)

Aiken's unsinkable Dido Twite is making her way back home when she finds herself entangled in the politics of a Celtic state located in the South American Andes. Taking place somewhere between "Nightbirds on Nantucket" and "The Cookoo Tree," this typically imaginative romp gives us a sleeping King Arthur, magic, and Dido's sunny disposition set in an alternative Victorian era. A must for Twite fans.