I still have the above original copy I read as a kid. I first read this book when I was is 8th grade, the entire series was actually part of the curriculum in the 1st semester, it opened a whole new adventure for me. Before them, a small forest of spars and ropes swayed; the tide was only half high, and the decks of the moored boats were down below the quayside, out of sight. Young Bill were buying stores and petrol and all, yesterday, enough for a navy, but nobody couldnt get it out of him who they was for. Word Count: 311. In Over Sea, Under Stone, Simon, Jane, and Barney are on holiday to Cornwall with their parents and Great Uncle Merry. I can smell it. Trewissicks five miles from St Austell, Great-Uncle Merry said. Oh, where is he? Barney still jigged impatiently on the dusty grey platform, glaring at the disappearing backs that masked his view. The boy pushed his bicycle to lean against the pile of boxes, scowling at Barney as he jumped nervously out of the way; then rage suddenly snarled out of him again. This is the first book of Susan Coopers Dark is Rising cycle. The Dark is Rising is actually the second book in the series, and much like another famous English fantasy series **coughNarniacough**, the second book is the better one; though in that case you get in to written chronology versus story chronology, and the conversation becomes complicated. Then he turned and went quickly back into the house, and Jane emerged thoughtfully from the car to follow the boys down the hill. . Try refreshing the page. They could smell a strangeness in the breeze that blew faintly on their faces down the hill; a beckoning smell of salt and seaweed and excitement. Standing there like a craggy towering statue, he was frowning, fierce and intense, almost as if he were looking and listening with senses other than his eyes and ears. Once again, I loved traipsing through the Cornish countryside with Simon, Jane, and Barney. It's no wonder these books garnered a ton of awards because it really does stand out like a shimmering diamond in the children's fantasy genre. But I suppose hell belong to you three for the next month. The children are launched into a nail biting race to find an unknown hidden object. Vol. 015259034X Over Sea, Under Stone, UK 1st ed. I know readers may compare it to Harry Potter and maybe be a little disappointed, but even today this series hold their own even after 30 plus years. Now youre in Cornwall. I haven't re-read them in years but they still stand out as some of, perhaps THE, best series of "fantastic" novels for children. The abstract and impersonal forces of myth and religion intersect with the precise details of the action and setting. Trewissick. In 1995 Armada Productions adapted Over Sea, Under Stone for BBC Radio 4 as part of its Children's Radio 4 strand, and followed in 1997 with an adaptation of its sequel The Dark Is Rising (both under their original titles). The yacht crept nearer, her sails beginning to flap; and then the tall white mainsail crumpled and dropped. He explains that some British artefact may have been hidden here long ago, and confirms that they will have dangerous grown-up rivals in its pursuit. Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2022. PDF. Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2013. The action is believable because it is firmly rooted in the ordinary people, customs, and landscape of Trewissick, Cornwall. If he wants to be beastly let him. Her leg was stinging viciously, and blood trickled down from a graze on her knee. Rain? said Simon incredulously, looking up at the blue sky. Its time for a The Dark is Rising sequence readathon again! Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. He was staring at a large black suitcase among the forest of shuffling legs. Both are linked to the Arthurian legends, both involve children on holiday trying to solve a mystery, both involve shady clergy and absent adults and robberies. This is the first of the Dark is Rising series, and although I've read the Dark is Rising, the second book in the series, more than once, I thought this time I'd indulge myself and start at the beginning and read them through. I first read this book many years ago, and the follow up books that make up the "Dark is Rising Sequence". She combines fantasy with history in. Over Sea, Under Stone is a fast-paced adventure story, full of exciting incident and perilous situations. Often on first sight it appears attractive and only later is seen as horrible. Great-Uncle Merry knows. And then, after what seemed a long time, the hills gave way to the long blue line of the sea, and the village was before them. Barney whistled, and held out his hand. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Related Titles on Simon Drew: Eldest of three Drew children. I didn't remember anything at all about it when I came across it again, so it was like an unknown book, except I remembered loving it. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Soon the house is burgled, with attention paid only to the bookshelves and the wall hangings, and the children guess that someone else knows of and seeks the manuscript. Over Sea, Under Stone tells the story of one of the skirmishes between good (Light) and evil (Dark) that culminates in the cosmic battle recorded in the last novel of the series, Silver on the Tree. This novel unit is a comprehensive study of Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper. Git outa me way. He jerked the bicycle upright, taking no heed of Jane; the pedal caught her ankle and she winced with pain. Re-reading it, I noticed a few things that irritate me as an adult reader (although I did not care when I was younger). Darling, be careful, Mother said. Over Sea, Under Stone is the first book in Cooper's superb The Dark is Rising quintet. what was the matter with him? Cooper wants her readers to see the need for choosing between the good and evil in themselves, as well as in the world. Hes gone on a quest. Mobile Apps. On dry land, out here in the sun? Yes, you will, she looks a bit green already. The action is believable because it is firmly rooted in the ordinary people, customs, and. dustjacket Summary Simon, Jane and Barney Drew visit the seaside village of Trewissick in Cornwall with their parents, to stay with "Great-Uncle Merry". Among narratives intended for children it features fairly sophisticated use of English, with an extensive vocabulary and complex sentence structures. She has also written books for adults, as well as plays and Emmy-nominated screenplays (some in collaboration with her second husband, the actor Hume Cronyn). I think these books are perhaps the best series I ever read. Darling, no, said his mother plaintively, clutching at the bunch of paint-brushes that sprouted from her pocket like a tuft of celery. Thats a nasty old cut you got there, midear, you want to go and get n washed up. Cooper and Gill know this setting well; they lay out the story authoritatively and confidently. more details. Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper: 9780739361979 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books On holiday in Cornwall, the three children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that hey are staying in. Nobody knew very much about Great-Uncle Merry, and nobody ever quite dared to ask. Request a complete Study Guide for this title! Over Sea, Under Stone Chapter One Where is he? Barney hopped from one foot to the other as he clambered down from the train, peering in vain through the white-faced crowds flooding eagerly to the St Austell ticket barrier. Through the streets and out of the town they thundered in the lurching car, until hedges took the place of houses; thick, wild hedges growing high and green as the road wound uphill, and behind them the grass sweeping up to the sky. He said hed meet us. The book seems to start off somewhat slowly but builds up to a very tense climax near the end, as Simon, Jane and Barnabas Drew grapple with the powers of evil aided by Great-Uncle Merry and a lovable dog named Rufus. They are quest stories, rich in Arthurian lore with bits of magic with history and artifacts thrown in. Rubbish. The boy deliberately turned his back, still sculling, and the dinghy disappeared outside the harbour entrance, round the jutting wall. The way they interacted felt realistic and it helped me to enjoy the story even more. I bought the book based on positive reviews from people whose opinion I respect very much. They know immediately that it is special. An illustration of a magnifying glass. Sailing-dinghies bobbed at their moorings along the quay, and a whole row of the Cornish fishing boats that they had seen only in pictures painted by their mother years before: stocky workmanlike boats, each with a stubby mast and a small square engine-house in the stern. A small, wizened figure popped up suddenly from a hatch in the deck and waved its arms about in fury, shouting over the water towards the boy in a surprisingly deep voice. Three children on holiday in Cornwall with their parents and a mysterious uncle discover an ancient treasure map lost in a secret room in the house they are staying in. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. [3] Thus it may ease readers into the fantasy genre.[3]. "The Dark is Rising" has a tiny bit of spotting on the top edge, and a bookplate on the front pastedown, else is in fine condiiton; the dustwrapper is not price-clipped,but has a short closed . I wonder maybethen he stopped short, strangely, as if he were quickly changing his mind about what he had been going to say. Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. Hell be back in his own good time. Barney gazed dreamily at the Cornish pasties Mrs Palk had made for their supper. How old he was, nobody knew. The children find a manuscript and a map but must battle the forces of evil to save the object of their quest. I know that it is aimed a young reading group, but it was exciting and fun. Then Great-Uncle Merry swung the wheel round, and suddenly they were driving along the edge of the harbour, past water rippling and flashing golden in the afternoon sun. She jumped to her feet and ran after them into the sunshine, seeing in an instant what they had seen: the towering familiar figure of Great-Uncle Merry, out in the yard, waiting for them. And she sat up suddenly as she realized that what she could see was the mysterious white yacht, moving out of Trewissick harbour as silently and strangely as it had come. Silent behind their lace-curtained windows, the little square houses let the roar of the car bounce back from their whitewashed walls. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Merriman is misdirected out of town, but the children anxiously follow their ancient guide "over sea and under stone" without him. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. They saw a terrace of houses sloping sideways up the steep hill; and in the middle of them, rising up like a tower, one tall narrow house with three rows of windows and a gabled roof. The family are visited at the Grey House by a very friendly Mr. Withers and his sister Polly, who invite them to go fishing on their yacht. After it was turned down by twenty or more publishers, she sent it to a friend of a friend who was reading manuscripts for Jonathan Cape, who published it in 1965."[5]. . Oh shut up, Im not going to listenand poor Jane turned and ran round the side of the mountain of fishy-smelling boxes, which had probably been having more effect on her imagination than the thought of the sea. Wayback Machine (iOS) . He must have said something, Jane said. King Arthurs name. Simon groaned. You know what he is. Ive heard that the later books in this classic childrens fantasy series are much more accomplished, and theres enough whimsy and heart in this one to encourage me to see if thats so. They know immediately that it is special. They stay in The Grey House, which belongs to a Captain Toms, who has left behind his red setter Rufus for them to look after. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2020, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 18, 2018, re-reading and just as good the second time round (30+ years apart! The very idea is wonderfully captivating. When Rex is invited to go along on the traditional pumpkin-picking trip with Pinky's grandparents, she doesn't feel that Pinky's cousin Abby really wants her to be part of the fun. Sheila Tubman (Peter Hatchers sworn enemy) sometimes wonders who she really is: the outgoing, witty, and capable Sheila the Great, or the secret Sheila, whos afraid of spiders, the. Hes just gone chasing after some stupid old tomb in a church, or something. On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. Oh well, Simon said amiably, shoving his hands in his pockets and standing with his legs apart, rocking on his heels, in his captain-on-the bridge stance. I wanted to like this but couldn't sink my teeth into the plot or characters. David Wood appeared as the storyteller, while dramatised sequences included Graham Crowden as Uncle Merry and Colin Jeavons as The Black Vicar. It was like reading the story of somebody's life, Jane thought, as she gazed at the tiny matchstick masts of the ship sailing motionless forever in the green glass bottle. Thats right, me andsome. The children eventually follow the clues to a cave beneath the headland and discover the Grail. Whats so marvellous about that? Jane said. Splendid vehicle. Very few people [who know me at all:] are unaware that The Dark Is Rising is possibly my favourite series of books in the history of ever. Another thing I enjoyed was the realism of Simon, Jane, and Barneys interactions. The addition to this story of some King Arthur archaeology is fantastic and still one of the points I love best about this book. Father shrugged. Certainly they are the best young adult series. I wish I could give this series a good review. 18 Apr. I think these books are perhaps the best series I ever read. No Import Fees Deposit & $10.99 Shipping to France. The children present the Grail to the British Museum and are given a cheque for it. The roof was slate-tiled, a high blue-grey arch facing out across the harbour to the sea. But for my money, Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series ranks as my #1 favorite. You ask Great-Uncle Merry. But Great-Uncle Merry, when they sat down to their first supper in the Grey House, was not there; only their parents, and the beaming red-cheeked village woman, Mrs Palk, who was to come in every day to help with the cooking and cleaning. Reading this for the first time in my sixties! The Dark is Rising is actually even better than this novel, but this one is a great setup to the sequel. Then suddenly he stood still, gazing downwards. By the way if you decide to read the books, don't watch the film - it's nothing like the books and you may well be disappointed. The Grey House, Great-Uncle Merry said. There is much to like about Cooper's writing, her characters and sense of place are strong but deep within the veins of the words is this sense of a connection with our history and heritage. Over Sea Under Stone is a great book, just as vivid and imaginative as ever. They heard a thumping, clattering noise, and looking over the edge they saw him lurching about in a rowing-dinghy. Moving hastily and angrily, he clouted the dinghy hard against the side of one of the big fishing-boats, but took no notice. The series is a timeless wonderful masterpiece. The newspapers would publish enthusiastic stories of what he had done. [4] Joel Chaston writes that the contest was "offered by E. Nesbit's publisher, Ernest Benn, for family-adventure stories like those written by Nesbit. We are introduced to the Drew children, Simon, Jane, and Barney, while on vacation in Cornwall with their adopted Great-Uncle Merry. The novel, however, is more than an adventure story; it is a modern fantasy, original but firmly rooted in the King Arthur stories. Thanks Lashaan! Soon he was out in open water, sculling rapidly, one-handed, and glaring back at them in sneering contempt. To see our price, add these items to your cart. Eventually. Is that what its called? Folio Society 21 Book Bundle. It hardly seemed possible that this summer, in the house he had rented for them in Trewissick, they would be with him in one place for four whole weeks. Good for you. Kindle Edition, 260 pages. Simon, Jane and Barney Drew arrive in Cornwall for a summer holiday in the harbour village of Trewissick . I know readers may compare it to Harry Potter and maybe be a little disappointed, but even today this series hold their own even after 30 plus years. By Susan Cooper. Download the entire Over Sea, Under Stone study guide as a printable PDF! His names Mr. Penhallow, and his boats called the White Heather. Throw in some Arthurian legend too and it is no wonder that children and adults alike can and do love this book. Get help and learn more about the design. Ah, said the fisherman. Successful soon after publication, the novel was well received by the literary world. I really enjoyed this story. (Tales from the House of Bunnicula Series #2). The last date is today's Having grown up during World War II, and having seen what for her was such a clear struggle between good and evil, Cooper is able to convincingly show in her novel how ordinary people are caught up in this struggle and forced to take sides. They clustered round him, chattering like squirrels round the base of a tree. "Over Sea, Under Stone - Summary" Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults This was a really fun books, I cant wait to pick up the next one! He turned his head and waved one arm away from the steering-wheel, so that Father moaned softly and hid his eyes. There was suddenly an ear-splitting crash from the other side of the boxes, a scream, and a noise of metal jingling on concrete. Simon shook his head, and the dog licked his ear. I first read this book when I was is 8th grade, the entire series was actually part of the curriculum in the 1st semester, it opened a whole new adventure for me. Susan Cooper lives on a saltmarsh island in Massachusetts, and you can visit her online at TheLostLand.com. Trewissick seemed to be sleeping beneath its grey, slate-tiled roofs, along the narrow winding streets down the hill. Over Sea, Under Stone features the Drew children, Simon, Jane and Barney, on holiday with their parents and Merriman Lyon, an old family friend, usually referred to by the children as their great-uncle. They recognise a drawing of the local coastline that may be a kind of map, with almost illegible text, but Barney realises that the map refers to King Arthur and his knights. Yes, come on, Jane, Simon said. Coming? Course. They know immediately that it is. Great-Uncle Merry had gone away. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. Over Sea, Under Stone is just as good as I remembered from my childhood, and it was a wonderful experience listening with my children. Last Updated on May 6, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. Hardcover. This book is still wonderful, exciting, fast paced classic treasure hunting adventure. Shell hold us all, anyway. He asks some probing questions that arouse Jane's suspicions and she decides to return home. Over the edge they saw him lurching about in a rowing-dinghy only later is seen as horrible [ 3.! Of what he had done could give this series a good review Drew arrive in,. 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