Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard

Elanor Farjeon was a gifted writer from a family of writers. She wrote the poem that became the lyrics to “Morning has broken”, a Cat Stevens hit. Her childrens books seem to be mostly unknown in this day and age, which is a shame, since they are full of the kind of big ideas girls crave- Deathless love, Maidens Forlorn; and whimsey and fairies and the bucolic setting of the Suffolk Downs.

Martin Pippin is a plowboy. As he walks one morning, he meets a love-sick man who begs him to rescue the fair maiden of his heart. the girl is locked in a wellhouse in the middle of an apple orchard, and guarded by twelve other girls, all of whom hate men, and all of whom have names beginning with “J”. Martin hides in the orchard for thirteen days, charms one maiden per day with a love story, a song and the answer to her quarrel with men. A classic tales-within-a-tale with a few gentle surprises at the end, and sure to charm the adolescent girl who collects unicorns.

Needless to say, a collection of stories about Earthly and Divine love don’t really qualify as baby/easy-reader stuff. I recommend that this book be changed to Adolescent Girl.

Elanor Farjeon wrote many other books as well, all of which re out of print. “Martin Pippin in The Daisy Field” is a group of bedtime storys in the same format, told to thirteen little girls in, of course, a daisy field. I think the stories are better than the “Apple Orchard”, and not a love story among them. “The Little Bookroom” is another collection of short stories. And there are two rewritings of fairy tales, novel length. One is “The silver Curlew” and I think it is Rumplestiltskin (It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them). The other is “The Glass Slipper”-you’ld never guess that it’s a retelling of Cinderella! Anyone would think that we have enough versions of that story bouncing around the universe, but this version is irrisistable to the sort of person who treasures the whimsy of “Winnie-The-Pooh” and wishes Milne had grown up. My daughter is nine and nearly ready to appreciate the lilting voice that this author speaks in.Please, Mr Houghto-Mifflin, Mr Avon, Somebody at Puffin, reprint these books!
Rating: 4 / 5

Farjeon is a remarkable writer with a wonderful imagination. She uses the tone and the style of British fairy tales to create her own stories with great skill and charm. It just occurred to me that she should be required reading for scriptwriters of TV evening soaps, with her ability to tell stand-alone short stories within an encompassing, ongoing narrative.

Like the other reviewers, I read this book and its companion, “Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field,” when I was a child, probably pre-teen. They were my mother’s books, and I discovered them in the cellar. Happy day!

The stories in this book are for older children, and probably would appeal more to girls. They’re sophisticated enough for adults, however, and stay in the memory. I think they’d be wonderful read aloud to 10 to 12-year-olds.

Like the rest of the reviewers, I wish this book and “…Daisy Field” were still in print. I’d buy multiple copies and distribute them far & wide.
Rating: 5 / 5

I am a Japanese woman and I read this book again and again since when I was around 10. The auther’s other books which are mentioned in the previous review are all still well selling here in Japan. You can find her books in almost every libraries.

Ever since I was fascinated by the exoticism of the Farjeon’s good old British atmosphare, I’ve been longing to read these books in the original text.

I was very disappointed to find out that most of her books are out of print even in her own country. It is a shame. There are gems of short stories which gives very good influence to the children’s fantasy. It is also ideal for the story telling text.

Thanks to the Amazon.com, I could find ‘The little book room” but Martin pippin series…

Please do reprint, it’s a very charming magical book.
Rating: 5 / 5