Behind the Scenes at the Museum facts for kids
First edition cover
|
|
| Author | Kate Atkinson |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
|
Publication date
|
2 March 1995 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 381 pp |
| ISBN | 0-385-40607-X |
Behind the Scenes at the Museum is the very first book written by British author Kate Atkinson. This novel tells the story of Ruby Lennox, a girl growing up in a working-class family in York, England. The "museum" in the book's title is actually the York Castle Museum. This museum has old house fronts on display, much like the one where Ruby's family lives.
The book shares the lives of six generations of women in Ruby's family. It goes all the way from her great-grandmother Alice to Ruby's own mother, Bunty. The story mixes flashbacks from the past with Ruby's life as it happens.
Contents
About the Book's Story
The main story of Ruby's life is told in thirteen chapters. Ruby herself narrates these chapters, starting in 1951 when she is born. She continues telling her story up to 1992.
How the Story Is Told
Between each chapter about Ruby, there are special sections called flashbacks. These flashbacks jump back in time and tell parts of the story from other family members' points of view. You'll hear from Ruby's great-grandmother Alice, her grandmother Nell, and her mother Bunty. This way, you learn about the family's history bit by bit.
Family History and World Wars
While the book mostly focuses on the women in the family, some flashbacks also show the experiences of the men. These parts describe what happened to them during World War I and World War II. For example, one flashback tells about a Halifax bomber crew on a difficult mission. This event later became important in another one of Kate Atkinson's books, A God in Ruins.
Meet the Characters
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in the book:
- Alice Barker: Ruby's great-grandmother.
- Nell: Ruby’s grandmother on her mother's side.
- Lillian: Nell's sister.
- Bunty: Ruby's mother and Nell's daughter.
- George: Ruby's father.
- Ruby Lennox: The main character and the person telling the story.
- Gillian Lennox: Ruby's older sister.
- Patricia Lennox: Ruby's oldest sister.
What the Book Is About
The book explores several important ideas. It looks at the challenges families face, including sad events that happen to children. It also shows how the two World Wars changed the lives of the family members. The story also talks about characters who suddenly disappear from their family's lives. Another theme is how some women in the family felt they had to marry, even if they weren't happy.
Awards and Recognition
Behind the Scenes at the Museum won a big award in 1995. It was named the Whitbread Book of the Year. It won against other famous books, like The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie. The book also won the 1996 Boeke Prize.
