The Children of the New Forest facts for kids
1911 illustrated edition
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| Author | Frederick Marryat |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
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Publication date
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1847 |
The Children of the New Forest is an exciting adventure novel for young people. It was written by Frederick Marryat and published in 1847. The story takes place during the English Civil War and the time known as the Commonwealth. This was a period when England was ruled without a king.
The book follows four children from the Beverley family. They become orphans during the war. To stay safe, they hide from the Roundhead soldiers in the New Forest. There, they learn how to live off the land and survive on their own.
Contents
The Story of the Beverley Children
The adventure begins in 1647. King Charles I has lost the English Civil War. He has run away from London towards the New Forest. Soldiers loyal to Parliament, called Roundheads, are searching the forest. They decide to burn Arnwood, the home of Colonel Beverley. He was a Cavalier officer, meaning he supported the King. Colonel Beverley was killed in a battle.
Everyone believes his four children, Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith, died in the fire. But they are saved by Jacob Armitage. He is a local verderer, someone who protects the forest. Jacob hides them in his quiet cottage. He pretends they are his grandchildren to keep them safe.
Life in the Forest
Jacob teaches the children how to live in the forest. They were used to a fancy life, but now they learn to be simple foresters. After Jacob dies, Edward, the oldest, takes charge. The children work hard to build up their small farm. Humphrey, the younger brother, is very good at finding new ways to make things work.
They also get help from a Romani boy named Pablo. They rescue him from a hidden trap. The story also has a mean gamekeeper named Corbould. He is a Puritan and tries to hurt Edward and his family.
New Friends and Challenges
Edward meets a kind Puritan named Heatherstone. Heatherstone is in charge of the King's land in the New Forest. Edward saves Heatherstone's daughter, Patience, from a house fire. Edward then leaves the cottage to work as a secretary for Heatherstone. He still pretends to be Jacob Armitage's grandson.
Later, Edward joins the army of the future King Charles II. But the King's side loses a big battle. Edward returns to the New Forest. He finds out that Heatherstone has been given the old Arnwood estate. Edward feels sad about this and thinks Patience doesn't love him. So, he runs away to France.
His sisters are sent away to be raised as proper ladies. His brother stays in the New Forest. Edward eventually learns that Patience does love him. He also finds out that Heatherstone got the Arnwood estate for Edward! Edward works as a soldier for hire in another country. He stays there until the King returns to England. Then, Edward and Patience are finally reunited.
Where the Story Takes Place
Frederick Marryat wrote The Children of the New Forest when he was retired. It was the last book he published before he died. Marryat would sometimes visit his brother's house, Chewton Glen, in Hampshire. This house was right on the edge of the New Forest.
It was there that he found ideas for his novel. The story is set around a real place called Arnewood. This manor is just south of the village of Sway. The coastal town of Lymington is also in the book. It is about three miles east of Arnewood.
Main Ideas in the Book
The story is mostly about the four Beverley children learning to survive on their own. It especially focuses on Edward, the oldest, as he grows up. He starts out a bit reckless but becomes more responsible. The book celebrates ideas like bravery and being a good person.
The four children in the novel become great examples of young men and women. Even Pablo, the Romani boy, learns good manners from them. Romani people were often seen in the New Forest in the 1800s. So, it made sense for Marryat to include Pablo in the story.
Understanding the War
Marryat had his own opinions about politics. His story supports the Royalist side, who were loyal to the King. But he also shows a good Roundhead character, Heatherstone. Heatherstone was in charge of the forest lands.
Marryat had been hurt many times in his navy career. He understood how war worked. He shows that he didn't like extreme views from either side. The book suggests that good leaders find a middle ground. It shows that King Charles's idea of ruling by divine right of kings was not always right. It also shows that Parliament's decision to execute him was wrong. The happy ending, with the family reunited, happens when the King returns to power. This idea of bringing people back together was important to Marryat. He wrote the book when there was a lot of political trouble in Europe.
Why This Book is Important
The Children of the New Forest was one of the first historical novels written for young readers. It was also one of the first that people still read today. It helped create a popular image of the English Civil War. In this view, the serious Roundheads were against the adventurous Cavaliers.
TV Shows Based on the Book
The BBC has made the novel into a TV series four times.
- 1955 (5 episodes)
- 1964 (6 episodes)
- 1977 (5 episodes)
- 1998 (6 episodes)
The 1998 TV series changed the original story quite a bit. Craig Kelly played the bad guy, Reverend Abel Corbould. He was obsessed with catching the Beverley family. He also tried to start a relationship with Patience, Heatherstone's daughter, but she didn't like him. Edward Beverley and Corbould had a final fight at a watermill. Edward pushed Corbould into the water, and he was pulled under by the water wheel.
The Children of the New Forest at Project Gutenberg
See also
In Spanish: The Children of the New Forest para niños
