'The Railway Children' by E. Nesbit

In this much-loved children's classic first published in 1906, the comfortable lives of three well-mannered brothers are greatly altered when, one night, two men come to the house and take their father away. With the family's fortune considerably reduced in his absence, the children and their mother are forced to live in a simple country house near a railway station. There, the young trio – Roberta, Peter and young Phyllis – make friends with the doorman and station master.

The young people's days are full of adventure and excitement, including their successful attempt to prevent a terrible train wreck; But their father's mysterious disappearance continues to haunt them.

The solution to this heartbreaking puzzle and many other details and events from the children's lives come to life in this perennial favorite, a story that has captivated generations of readers.

MY THOUGHTS:

This was published in 1906, so it belongs to the charming enlightened boy of the short-lived Edwardian era. Three young brothers live a comfortable life with their parents in a London house until their father, a government employee, is kicked out of the house one night. The reader is given enough hints early on to assume that he has been wrongfully imprisoned, although this fact has long been hidden from Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis.

Their mother is forced to move the family to Three Chimneys, a rustic country house, and drastically cuts costs while trying to support them by writing stories. She is one of those beloved mother-heroes with the weight of the world on her shoulders, and the poems she writes for family and friends during her leisure time are a great embellishment of the book.

Instead of becoming unhappy about their new spartan lifestyle, the three children channel their energy into familiarizing themselves with the local rail and canal systems. The railway is their favorite, because it is the first interest they discover, and the people who work and travel along it are the friendliest. There were several railroad workers in my family line, so I really appreciate that.

On several occasions, at least three of great importance, the trio is present at crucial moments to avoid serious accidents. Yes, it's very convenient plot-wise, but also more fun to read. Other themes include being bold enough to ask for what they need, as others cannot be expected to guess. Their mother and other adults are often horrified when the lines of pride and privacy are accidentally crossed, but Bobbie, Peter, and Phyllis definitely get things done, making us question whether those lines should be there at all.

Bobbie, or Roberta, the older sister, is a memorable character for me. For those of us familiar with 21st century terms, it's clear that she is an empath, our modern label for a person with a sixth sense when it comes to perceiving the mental or emotional turmoil of others. This is quite fascinating, because Nesbit would never have heard of such a term, writing in 1906, but Bobbie clearly has all the typical traits, including internalizing the emotions of others, a willingness to help, a love of nature, and a certain delicacy of retaining her knowledge. intuitive when she thinks it is more delicate.

The book explains her character as a 'quiet friendliness, who is not as dull as she seems and is not always easy'. In other words, Bobbie doesn't reveal to people that she is aware of their suffering, but just makes an extra effort to be nice and lighten the load. It is a rare and excellent talent to have, but because it is so internalized, it tends to go unnoticed, without praise. Because of this, Bobbie never comes across as a sweet tooth who is performing for brownie points, but rather as the treasure that she is.

Additionally, she gets into too many heated arguments with her brother and sister for being a glutton.

Phyllis, or Phil, is just the kind of feisty little sister who stands up for herself that I like. And Peter is a great guy, hanging out with his sisters because his options are so limited, while restless machismo and testosterone cause him to be a little dissatisfied and impatient. In a cringe-worthy scene, Dr. Forrest gives him a completely old-fashioned, condescending, and downright sexist lecture. 'You know, men have to do the work of the world and not be afraid of anything, so they have to be strong and courageous. But women have to take care of their babies and cuddle them and breastfeed them, and be very patient and gentle… good for the babies.

I had to laugh when Peter later paraphrased Bobbie and Phyllis' Dr. Forrest has been talking scientifically to me. It all depends on you girls being poor, soft, weak and scared like rabbits, so we men have to put up with it. Haha, we've come a long way.

Overall, it's a comforting blast from the past about kindness, simple pleasures, straightforward honesty, and things that end well simply because some people dare to show a little initiative. And I'm sure I won't forget Bobbie's delayed reaction after a sudden landslide on the tracks.

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