Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) is one of many of the British authors that we have come to love. Over the summers we have enjoyed her series called The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899).
Our favorite is the second book of the series called, The Wouldbegoods (1899). It is the story of the four Bastable children sent to live in the English country side and their pact to be good. They are forever trying their best to stay out of trouble and forever wanting a ginger beer.Being the curious types that we are, we (my own four "wouldbegoods" and I) set out to make ginger beer ourselves. I found that you could really make ginger beer (and have since had a bottle myself during my trip to Virginia) but decide to go with un-fermented ginger ale. It is very easy to make and very delicious! It has become a bit of a summer tradition to enjoy ginger ale while listening to our summer read-alouds. Particularly, if it is a Nesbit story or the work of another British author.
Currently, we are enjoying E .Nesbit's, The Railway Children (1909). It is written in classic Nesbit style. It has the darling English children, the country side, and adventures. Or more accurately, the misadventures. I'm enjoying this book tremendously even though there is nary a bottle of ginger beer! It is the character of the Mother that I am loving the most.
2 comments:
thanks for sharing... The Railway Children makes me think of The Boxcar Children series...any influence there do you think? I should like to check out the Railway Children, sounds like some fun summer reading.
I didn't realize that she wrote more than the Railway Children! I will have to read them to the next batch of grandkids, should I ever be lucky enough to have any more! I was hoping you might add the ginger beer recipe to the blog?
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