Terrible Times (Eddie Dickens Trilogy) [Paperback]

Philip Ardagh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 4, 2003 | Series: Eddie Dickens Trilogy

In Terrible Times our erstwhile hero Eddie Dickens finds himself en-route to North America in the dubious care of professional chaperone Lady Constance Bustles, whose previous charges have all died under mysterious circumstances. He finds himself sharing a berth with disreputable prospectors, some familiar faces (stuffed animal and human) from his past, and with the Great Gretcha who suffers from serious bouts of sleeping sickness.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-At the opening of this final installment in the series, Eddie's parents tell him that they are sending him from England to America. Before his journey begins, however, numerous disasters are described, all of which seem to have happened to members of the boy's crazy family, but not to him. Unfortunately, the events do not proceed with enough character development or imminent danger to keep even avid readers hooked. Once young Dickens and his seemingly sweet but ultimately murderous chaperone board the ship for America, the action picks up, but many youngsters may not stick with this long-winded, confusing novel to find that out. Humorous black-and-white cartoons appear throughout. If your library has the first two of the trilogy, by all means pick up the third. Otherwise, look for Debi Gliori's Pure Dead Magic (Knopf, 2001) to meet the requests of your Lemony Snicket fans.
Sharon R. Pearce, Chippewa Elementary School, Bensenville, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-7. The third title in the Eddie Dickens trilogy finds the hapless young hero being sent to America on family business by Mad Uncle Jack. Eddie can't travel alone, however, and his sailing companion, Lady Constance, has a disconcerting history of "losing" employers and benefiting from their fortunes. Complicating matters are the discovery of Even Madder Aunt Maud (and her stuffed stoat) stowed away on board, a cargo of left shoes and a famous diamond, and a dastardly plot putting passengers at risk. Ultimately, things and thugs are well sorted out, leaving one to think that perhaps there's really no place like home, even if it happens to be Awful End. Like its predecessors, this quirky read, set in Victorian England, blends zany story lines and oddball characters with abundant, reader-directed digressions and commentary. Prose and format have vintage flair, as do the humorous, black-and-white illustrations. Lemony Snickett's fans will enjoy these (mis)adventures, which will be welcomed by series fans but can also stand nicely alone. Shelle Rosenfeld
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Faber Childrens (September 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571216226
• ISBN-13: 978-0571216222
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #179,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lost at Sea, August 2, 2007

By 

R. Chaffey "beckahi" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Terrible Times (Eddie Dickens, Book 3) (Hardcover)

As the final book in his Eddie Dickens trilogy, Philip Ardagh has made "Terrible Times" a fitting end. The mishaps and adventures of Eddie Dickens began in the first book when he was mistaken for an orphan. The general whackiness that began the series is ever-present in the third and final installment.

In "Terrible Times" Eddie finds out that he is supposed to go to America to see what is wrong with the family's newspaper known as the 'Terrible Times'. Eddie never makes it to America because his adventures at sea include a traveling companion whose previous employers have all died and left all their money to her. What could she possibly have planned for Eddie on their fateful voyage?

Philip Ardagh has a sharp and ready wit. The story is quickly paced in spit of all the wanderings off course. Yet some of the novelty has worn off by the third book, especially since some of his shtick is a take off of Lemony Snicket's style. Still it is a light-hearted and enjoyable read that will make the reader laugh.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zany misfortunes and disreputable traveling companions, March 10, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrible Times (Eddie Dickens, Book 3) (Hardcover)

Terrible Times is Book 3 of the 'Eddie Dickens Trilogy' and requires familiarity with the past plots, but will nonetheless delight fans who have enjoyed the story of hero Eddie, who now finds himself en route to North America aboard the sail ship The Pompous Pig. Zany misfortunes and disreputable traveling companions abound with mystery and an involving, lively plot.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN ATTENTION-GETTING READING, October 4, 2003

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Eddie Dickens Trilogy Book Three: Terrible Times (Audio Cassette)

Philip Ardagh is one author who knows precisely how to grab the attention of young readers and never let it go. He's wry, humorous, and incomparable. Attesting to his winning ways is the popularity of the first two books in his Eddie Dickens Trilogy: "A House Called Awful End" and "Dreadful Acts."

Now comes "Terrible Times" read by the immensely talented Martin Rayner.

Expressing surprise at the success of these books Mr. Ardagh relates that their genesis is found in letters that he wrote to a nephew at boarding school. Whatever the case, they're gems and, in this reviewer's estimation will be enjoyed by generations of young people.

North America is the destination of Eddie, the young protagonist, in "Terrible Times." He finds himself aboard a sailing ship carrying an unlikely cargo - countless left shoes. The unforgettable Dog's Bone Diamond has also booked passage, along with a gaggle of shipmates who should be forced to walk planks.

As if that weren't enough, of course, there's a stowaway.

Before long the hapless Eddie is set adrift in a leaky rowboat. Chances are slim that he can backstroke all the way to America. What's to become of him now?

- Gail Cooke