Pretty dated, it was published 1927 which seems to be a bit too old for a children’s book it’s just a bit too ‘old’ in style.

I couldn’t really get into it and gave up half way through. I did learn the word grimalkin though which was good. ( )

A disappointment (so why 3 stars rather than 2? Bumped up for historical importance and author's literary qualities ... but for sheer pleasure it gave me, it's really a 2). Even Madeleine L'Engle, who wrote an afterword for it, damned it with faint praise (paraphrasing, but basically "it's over-complicated and confusing but kids out to be able to figure it out nonetheless).

Too many characters, too many shifts in time and place, too many dreams, or dreams which turn out not to be dreams, and despite almost constant movement from our protagonist, no sense that any of it is really directed or intentional, the plot seemed to happen all around him, despite him. Lots of scenes of people telling other people what other people had done, were doing, or were going to do.

I thought it was interesting, but as a historical artifact, "fancy, that used to be the sort of book one would give a child and expect them to enjoy it!"

Will still try the next book (Box of Delights) which is apparently more of a classic and perhaps the author learned lessons from book one and applied them to book two. Fingers crossed!

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). ( )

Fun story. I am really not certain whether I've ever read it before - the overall structure was completely familiar, but the incidents surprised me. I am certain I've seen a reference to Kay Harker before, in another book (by someone else) - something about "little Kay Harker, all grown up". No idea what book, though. Enjoyable in itself, as well as as a classic - I expect I'll reread this from time to time. ( )

John Masefield hat "Das Mitternachtsvolk" (The midnight folk) schon 1927 geschrieben - damit entsprach die Situation, in der wir Kay finden (allein auf einem Herrensitz mit launischer Gouvernante, netten Bediensteten und einem entfernt wohnenden Vormund) wohl durchaus an manchen Stellen der Realität. Auch die Anforderungen, die von der Gouvernante an den jungen Herrn gestellt werden, und die aus heutiger Sicht schon recht streng oder auch antiquiert wirken, sind da nicht abwegig. Dennoch ist Kay ein Junge, mit dem man sich auch heute identifizieren kann - immer nachts (und manchmal auch tagsüber) erlebt er spannende Abenteuer. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei ein Schatz, den sein Großvater als Seemann zur sicherein Verwahrung auf sein Schiff nahm, der dann aber durch mehrere Hände ging und daher bislang nicht an die rechtmäßigen Besitzer zurückgegeben werden konnte. Und dann gibt es natürlich auch noch diejenigen, die den Schatz für sich finden wollen.

Ich hatte etwas Mühe, in die Geschichte hereinzufinden (eine Einführung in die Geschichte gibt es nicht), je weiter ich kam, desto mehr hat mich die Geschichte dann aber in ihren Bann gezogen. Und trotz des Alters des Buchs (veröffentlicht 1927, meine Ausgabe in deutscher Übersetzung ist von 1989) ist die Sprache nicht veraltet, geschweige denn der Inhalt.

Klare Leseempfehlung für alle, die der phantastischen Literatur nicht abgeneigt sind und auch keine Scheu vor alten Texten haben. ( )

A disappointment (so why 3 stars rather than 2? Bumped up for historical importance and author's literary qualities ... but for sheer pleasure it gave me, it's really a 2). Even Madeleine L'Engle, who wrote an afterword for it, damned it with faint praise (paraphrasing, but basically "it's over-complicated and confusing but kids out to be able to figure it out nonetheless).

Too many characters, too many shifts in time and place, too many dreams, or dreams which turn out not to be dreams, and despite almost constant movement from our protagonist, no sense that any of it is really directed or intentional, the plot seemed to happen all around him, despite him. Lots of scenes of people telling other people what other people had done, were doing, or were going to do.

I thought it was interesting, but as a historical artifact, "fancy, that used to be the sort of book one would give a child and expect them to enjoy it!"

Will still try the next book (Box of Delights) which is apparently more of a classic and perhaps the author learned lessons from book one and applied them to book two. Fingers crossed!

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). ( )