Ann at Highwood Hall

by Robert Graves, Edward Ardizzone (Illustrator)

Overview

Boisterous, witty, and enchanting, this collection of children's poems by Robert Graves—with iconic drawings by Edward Ardizzone—will delight any young reader. First published over 50 years ago, this is a faithful reproduction of the 1964 original that was published in the United States and Great Britain.

Seven poems evoke the world of Victorian England and include the story of Ann, "the third-but-youngest child of seventeen" who runs away to live at a duke's palace; a valentine in verse; a battle of words lost in translation between King George II and the Chinese Emperor; a bedside visit to a little girl from her doctor; and a lively argument between young Caroline and Charles that sounds a lot like 21st-century banter between children.

Ann at Highwood Hall will thrill scholars of Robert Graves, collectors of classic children's books, illustrators, historians... and poetry lovers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781609807436
Publisher:	Seven Stories Press
Publication date:	07/25/2017
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Robert Graves (1895-1985) was a preeminent English poet, novelist, critic, translator, and scholar of classical mythology. He served in World War I—an experience recounted in his 1929 autobiography, Good-Bye to All That—and later became the first professor of English literature at the University of Cairo. Best remembered today for his acclaimed historical novels about the Roman emperor Claudius, I, Claudius and Claudius the God, his other books include The White Goddess, The Hebrew Myths, and Collected Poems.

Table of Contents

Ann at Highwood Hall 1

St Valentine's Day 13

George II and the Chinese Emperor 17

I Have a Little Cough, Sir 30

The Sewing Basket 33

Joseph and Jesus 34

Caroline and Charles 36

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2017
Gr 3–5—This slim volume contains seven of Graves's poems, rereleased from their first publication in 1964. The selections, originally written for Graves's grandchildren, vary in subject, from "Ann of Harwood Hall," about a Victorian English girl who runs away to live in the Duke's Harwood Hall, to the brief "I Have a Little Cough Sir," where a child with a cough fears her mortality. The poems have a very British sensibility, with some of the humor and subject matter a bit darker than most contemporary verse for children in this age range. The language is also challenging, with several poems written in iambic pentameter with complex rhyme schemes and sentence structure. Ardizzone's illustrations are remarkably detailed and breathe new life into the collection. VERDICT Overall pleasing, though this may be a tough sell for less experienced poetry readers. Adults and fans of Graves or Ardizzone are the best audience for this one.—Ellen Norton, Naperville Public Library, IL

School Library Journal