These authors are not contemporary, but classic.
I can find little biographical info on Gladys Malvern. Her books were first published in the 40s and are now out of print. Jonica's Island (the story of a young girl in Nieuw Amersterdaam in the 1600s) and The Foreigner (a fictionalized account of Ruth) are both excellent. Malvern wrote mostly historical fiction, romance, and biographies. These books are appropriate for all ages, but I love reading them now. (You never are too old for a good story, I guess that's why every five years or so I have to re-read the entire Anne of Green Gables series.) I picked up these titles when a Catholic school closed many years ago, and now I find that these books are worth a fortune on Amazon!
A. J. Cronin wrote the Catholic epic, The Keys of the Kingdom, which was made into an Academy award nominated motion picture with Gregory Peck. He also wrote The Citadel, Shannon's Way, and dozens of others. Many of his books take place in Scotland, and deal with the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. Because of the heavier subject matter, these books are appropriate for teens and adults. It's not that they are inappropriate, I simply don't think kids will be interested in them. Cronin published from the 1930s through the 1970s.
A third author I recommend is James Herriott. His autobiographical books of veterinary life in Yorkshire from the 1930's to modern times are funny and romantic. Our family has listened to these stories on many road trips. Recommended for all ages.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2007
A Few Oldies but Goodies
These authors are not contemporary, but classic.
I can find little biographical info on Gladys Malvern. Her books were first published in the 40s and are now out of print. Jonica's Island (the story of a young girl in Nieuw Amersterdaam in the 1600s) and The Foreigner (a fictionalized account of Ruth) are both excellent. Malvern wrote mostly historical fiction, romance, and biographies. These books are appropriate for all ages, but I love reading them now. (You never are too old for a good story, I guess that's why every five years or so I have to re-read the entire Anne of Green Gables series.) I picked up these titles when a Catholic school closed many years ago, and now I find that these books are worth a fortune on Amazon!
A. J. Cronin wrote the Catholic epic, The Keys of the Kingdom, which was made into an Academy award nominated motion picture with Gregory Peck. He also wrote The Citadel, Shannon's Way, and dozens of others. Many of his books take place in Scotland, and deal with the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. Because of the heavier subject matter, these books are appropriate for teens and adults. It's not that they are inappropriate, I simply don't think kids will be interested in them. Cronin published from the 1930s through the 1970s.
A third author I recommend is James Herriott. His autobiographical books of veterinary life in Yorkshire from the 1930's to modern times are funny and romantic. Our family has listened to these stories on many road trips. Recommended for all ages.
I can find little biographical info on Gladys Malvern. Her books were first published in the 40s and are now out of print. Jonica's Island (the story of a young girl in Nieuw Amersterdaam in the 1600s) and The Foreigner (a fictionalized account of Ruth) are both excellent. Malvern wrote mostly historical fiction, romance, and biographies. These books are appropriate for all ages, but I love reading them now. (You never are too old for a good story, I guess that's why every five years or so I have to re-read the entire Anne of Green Gables series.) I picked up these titles when a Catholic school closed many years ago, and now I find that these books are worth a fortune on Amazon!
A. J. Cronin wrote the Catholic epic, The Keys of the Kingdom, which was made into an Academy award nominated motion picture with Gregory Peck. He also wrote The Citadel, Shannon's Way, and dozens of others. Many of his books take place in Scotland, and deal with the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics. Because of the heavier subject matter, these books are appropriate for teens and adults. It's not that they are inappropriate, I simply don't think kids will be interested in them. Cronin published from the 1930s through the 1970s.
A third author I recommend is James Herriott. His autobiographical books of veterinary life in Yorkshire from the 1930's to modern times are funny and romantic. Our family has listened to these stories on many road trips. Recommended for all ages.
3 comments:
I remember the Ruth and Esther books by Malvern fondly. But I'm really commenting to ask if you (or other readers) remember a kids book about Pontius Pilate's wife, Claudia? I read it about the same time I read the Malverns, and I'd like to find it again, but the library got rid of it long ago and I can't remember title or author. While I think I found it near the Malverns, I also don't think she wrote it.
ReplyDelete
Assorted googling over the years hasn't turned up anything I recognize.
The book I remember had a secondary plot involving the daughter of the family Claudia was brought up with becoming a Vestal under protest and eventually being buried alive.
Thanks!Elaine,
ReplyDelete
After doing my own research, I cannot find anything about Claudia by Malvern. I read Tamar and Saul's Daughter, both good biblical fiction, but not about Pilate's wife. Good luck with your search! Let's ask St. Anthony to help.
Yours,
Catholic Mom
Wow! Exciting to hear that someone else has read Malvern's books.
ReplyDelete
I read them in my early teens, way back in the mid 1960s. I particularly remember the one about Ruth.
Glad to have discovered your blog. I'll be reading your archives.
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I remember the Ruth and Esther books by Malvern fondly. But I'm really commenting to ask if you (or other readers) remember a kids book about Pontius Pilate's wife, Claudia? I read it about the same time I read the Malverns, and I'd like to find it again, but the library got rid of it long ago and I can't remember title or author. While I think I found it near the Malverns, I also don't think she wrote it.
ReplyDeleteAssorted googling over the years hasn't turned up anything I recognize.
The book I remember had a secondary plot involving the daughter of the family Claudia was brought up with becoming a Vestal under protest and eventually being buried alive.
Thanks!
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteAfter doing my own research, I cannot find anything about Claudia by Malvern. I read Tamar and Saul's Daughter, both good biblical fiction, but not about Pilate's wife. Good luck with your search! Let's ask St. Anthony to help.
Yours,
Catholic Mom
Wow! Exciting to hear that someone else has read Malvern's books.
ReplyDeleteI read them in my early teens, way back in the mid 1960s. I particularly remember the one about Ruth.
Glad to have discovered your blog. I'll be reading your archives.