Over Sea, Under Stone facts for kids
Gill cover of first edition
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| Author | Susan Cooper |
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| Illustrator | Margery Gill |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Dark is Rising |
| Genre | Children's fantasy, mystery novel |
| Published | May 1965 (Jonathan Cape) |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 252 (first ed., hard) |
| OCLC | 10705690 |
| LC Class | PZ7.C7878 Ov |
| Followed by | The Dark Is Rising |
Over Sea, Under Stone is an exciting fantasy book for kids, written by Susan Cooper from England. It was first published in London in 1965. Susan Cooper later wrote four more books, making this the first in a popular series called The Dark is Rising Sequence.
Unlike the other books in the series, this one feels more like a mystery. It has hints of fantasy that become clearer later on. This makes it a great way for new readers to get into the fantasy world.
Contents
Story of the Book
Over Sea, Under Stone is about three children: Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew. They are on holiday with their parents and an old family friend, Merriman Lyon. The children call him their great-uncle. The Drew family meets him in a made-up fishing village called Trewissick, located on the southern coast of Cornwall.
The Secret Map
In the attic of the big Grey House they are renting, the children find an old paper. It has a drawing of the local coastline that looks like a map. The writing on it is hard to read. But Barney figures out that the map is about King Arthur and his knights. The children decide to keep their discovery a secret.
Strange Visitors
Soon, a very mean Mr. Withers and his sister Polly visit the Grey House. They invite the family to go fishing on their yacht. The boys are excited, but Jane feels suspicious and decides not to go. While Jane is alone, she finds a Trewissick guidebook in an old trunk. She sees that the map in the guidebook is similar to their secret map, but also different.
Jane decides to visit the local vicar, who wrote the guidebook. The man at the vicarage is not the writer. He offers to help Jane but asks many questions that make her suspicious. Jane decides to go home quickly.
Danger Begins
Later, the house is burgled. Only the bookshelves and wall hangings are searched. The children guess that someone else knows about their secret paper and wants it. They decide it is time to tell Great-Uncle Merry.
Up on the headland, they show him the map. He tells them it is a copy of an even older map that leads to a hidden treasure. He also warns them that they are now in great danger. He explains that a special British artefact might have been hidden there a long time ago. He confirms that dangerous adults will also be looking for it.
This is how their quest for the Grail begins. They are working for the "Light" and must find the Grail. But Mr. Withers and his sister, who work for the "Dark," are trying to stop them at all costs.
Following the Clues
While their mother paints and their father goes boating, the children try to understand the map. Great-Uncle Merry encourages them but also warns and protects them. They learn to read the map's diagrams and clues. However, they have to work outdoors, where the "Dark" can easily watch them.
While looking for the first clue, Simon is chased by Mr. Hastings and Bill Hoover, Jr. After the second clue leads them to the headland at night, Simon, Jane, and Great-Uncle Merry are attacked and almost caught by followers of the "Dark." Merriman is sent out of town, but the children bravely follow their ancient guide "over sea and under stone" without him.
Barney is kidnapped by Mr. Withers and his sister Polly, and his siblings must rescue him. The children finally follow the clues to a cave under the headland and find the Grail. Sadly, they lose an important metal case that was inside the Grail. This case held a coded paper that could explain the markings on the outside of the Grail.
The Grail and a Realization
The children give the Grail to the British Museum. They receive a cheque for it. The Grail causes a lot of discussion among the scholars there because of its strange markings. Barney starts to suspect something. He keeps thinking of Great-Uncle Merry's name and eventually connects it to Merlin.
Main Characters
- Simon Drew: The oldest of the three Drew children.
- Jane Drew: The middle Drew sibling.
- Barnabas Drew (Barney): The youngest of the siblings.
- Merriman Lyon (Great-Uncle Merry; Gumerry): An old friend of the Drew children's grandfather. He is their wise guide and teacher.
- Captain Toms: A friend of Merriman. He owns The Grey House, which the Drews rent. He has a very smart red setter dog named Rufus. Rufus helps the Drew children avoid danger and find the Grail.
- Mr. Withers and his sister Polly: Tourists who act very friendly but are actually agents of the "Dark."
- Mr. Hastings: An agent of the "Dark." He pretends to be the town Vicar. He leads the "Dark" members who fight Merriman and the Drew children for the Grail.
- Bill Hoover Jr.: The nephew of the housekeeper. He is a young, unpleasant local who works for the Withers.
- Mrs. Palk: The kind Cornish housekeeper of the Grey House. She is Bill's aunt and helps him.
- Rufus: The dog.
- Father: Simon, Jane, and Barney's Father.
- Mother: Simon, Jane, and Barney's Mother.
How the Book Was Made
This novel is inspired by the old stories of King Arthur and also by Susan Cooper's own childhood. The village of Trewissick in the book is based on a real village called Mevagissey, where she used to go for holidays. The old vicarage, where Jane Drew first meets Mr. Hastings, is based on the real Mevagissey House.
Over Sea, Under Stone was written because of a contest. The contest was set up to honor E. Nesbit, a famous children's author. Her publisher, Ernest Benn, offered the contest for adventure stories like Nesbit used to write. Susan Cooper didn't officially enter the contest, but she finished her story anyway. After many publishers turned it down, she sent it to a friend of a friend who worked for Jonathan Cape. This person decided to publish it as Over Sea, Under Stone in 1965.
Book History
- 1965, UK, Jonathan Cape, May 1965, hardcover (first edition)
- 1966, US, Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966, hard (first US ed.)
- 1968, UK, Puffin (ISBN: 0-14-03-0362-6), 1968, paperback
- 1989, US, Simon Pulse (ISBN: 0020427859), 30 April 1989, paper
- 1989, US, First Scholastic, November 1989, paper
TV Show Version
In 1969, the BBC show Jackanory made a 5-part TV version of Over Sea, Under Stone. David Wood was the storyteller. The acted parts included Graham Crowden as Uncle Merry and Colin Jeavons as The Black Vicar.
Radio Show Version
In 1995, Armada Productions turned Over Sea, Under Stone into a radio show for BBC Radio 4. It was part of their Children's Radio 4 series. Later, in 1997, they also adapted the next book, The Dark Is Rising. Both shows had four half-hour episodes and stayed very true to the books.
Ronald Pickup (who many know as the voice of Aslan in the BBC Narnia TV shows) voiced Merriman Lyon. Struan Roger played Mr. Hastings, Mr. Mitothin, and The Rider. "Over Sea, Under Stone" was played again in 1997 and in November 2016 on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
