Traveller in Time [Paperback]

Allison Uttley (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Ace (January 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441822134
• ISBN-13: 978-0441822133
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,248,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Children's Historical, re: Mary, Queen of Scots, July 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Traveller in Time (Paperback)

This novel, one of my all-time favourites, is the story of Penelope, who at the age of nine visits her great-aunt in the British countryside for a summer. While at the centuries-old farm, she discovers that her second-sight enables her to travel back in time to the 16th century, when Mary, Queen of Scots was first in hiding nearby, then imprisoned, by Elizabeth I of England. She interacts with the nobility of the farm, some of whom are in league with the exiled Queen, and are plotting to rescue her. Although she knows the plot is doomed to failure, and that Queen Mary will be executed, Penelope sympathizes with the "Captive Queen", and tries to aid the rescue attempt. She makes several trips to the past, and grows to love the people she meets there. This novel is full of beautiful language, evocative descriptions, and haunting images. It is an unforgettable story: one so moving and detailed that you can almost taste and smell the past from its pages. A! warning: this book is very sad. However, it is also incredibly interesting, especially if you have studied Elizabethan England, or the history of the Scottish Queen.

"Traveller" is not only a children's book - it is written to older-fashioned guidelines for children's literature: very appropriate for adults as well.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most convincing time travel story I've ever read, October 27, 2003

By 

L O'connor (richmond, surrey United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Traveller in Time (Paperback)

Reading this book, it is hard to believe that the author has not actually visited the 16th century in person. The heroine, Penelope, staying with her great-aunt Tissie and great-uncle Barnabas at Thackers Farm in Derbyshire, finds herself unexpectedly able to pass back and forth from the present (late 19th century) to the reign of Elizabeth I. Here she meets the Babington family, who plot to save mary Queen of Scots from captivity in nearby Wingfield Manor. Her distant ancestor, Cicely Taverner, is cook to the Babbington family, and the descriptions of the servants lives and conversations are utterly convincing, more so than the rather romanticised upper-class Babbingtons. The Thackers Farm of the past comes to be more real to penelope than the present-day place. The escape of the Queen of SCots is doomed to fail, and Penelope knows it, but can do nothing to change history. I understand Alison Uttley had plans to write a sequel to this lovely book, it is fascinating but frustrating to imagine what it would have been like.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, March 24, 2002

By 

S. HADAVI "sinead" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Traveller in Time (Hardcover)

I first saw A Traveller in Time on TV in Ireland in the 80s, and had to buy the book. What a delight for all ages.The book tells the story of Penelope who on a visit to her Aunt and Uncle's farm in Derbyshire, travels back to the 16th century. Penelope meets the Babington family who tried unsuccessfully to free the captive Mary Queeen of Scots from nearby Wingfield Manor.Alison Uttley's characters are so convincing, and her descriptions of 16th century life so vivid. All the places in book also exist and can be seen today.