{"product_id":"the-midnight-folk-hardcover","title":"The Midnight Folk - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn Masefield\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eMadeleine L'Engle\u003c\/b\u003e (Afterword by), \u003cb\u003eRowland Hilder\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Midnight Folk\u003c\/i\u003e introduces readers to Kay Harker, the orphaned boy who is also the hero of John Masefield's classic Christmas fantasy, \u003ci\u003eThe Box of Delights\u003c\/i\u003e. Kay lives in a vast old country house, and is looked after by an unpleasant duo: the oily and egregious Sir Theopompous and the petulant and punitive Sylvia Daisy Pouncer. In her zeal to educate Kay on the finer points of Latin grammar, Sylvia Daisy has even taken away all of Kay's toys. Life seems very dull, until out of an old family portrait steps Kay's great-grandfather, a sea captain, who, if legend is to be believed, made off with a fabulous treasure. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSoon Kay is engaged in a thrilling quest that begins each night as the clock strikes twelve, taking him into the enchanted and dangerous world of the Midnight Folk: pirates, highwaymen, talking animals, and a gang of witches led by none other than Sylvia Daisy (in cahoots, as in \u003ci\u003eThe Box of Delights\u003c\/i\u003e, with the arch-villain Abner Brown). In the end, it is that ragtag team of old toys that rallies to support Kay and save the day. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA book to set beside C.S. Lewis's \u003ci\u003eNarnia\u003c\/i\u003e tales and Joan Aiken's \u003ci\u003eWolves of Willoughby Chase\u003c\/i\u003e--not to mention the Harry Potter series--\u003ci\u003eThe Midnight Folk\u003c\/i\u003e is a wonderful and enthralling contribution to the great English tradition of children's literature, beloved by adults and children alike.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJohn Masefield\u003c\/b\u003e (1878-1967) was born in Herefordshire, England. After being orphaned at an early age, he was sent to sea aboard the school-ship HMS \u003ci\u003eConway\u003c\/i\u003e in preparation for a naval career. Masefield's apprenticeship was disastrous--he was classified as a Distressed British Seaman after a voyage around Cape Horn--and he soon left the ship. Arrangements were then made for him to join another ship in New York. But Masefield had other plans: he deserted ship vowing \"to be a writer, come what might.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAt seventeen Masefield was living as a vagrant in America. He found work as a bar hand but eventually secured employment at a carpet factory. Thinking that journalism might allow him to write for a living, Masefield returned to England in 1897. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMasefield's first volume of oetry, \u003ci\u003eSalt-Water Ballads\u003c\/i\u003e, was published in 1902, however, it was not until the publication of \u003ci\u003eThe Everlasting Mercy\u003c\/i\u003e in 1911 that he made his mark on the literary scene. The success of his second book was followed by the publication of several long narrative poems, including \u003ci\u003eDauber\u003c\/i\u003e (1914) and \u003ci\u003eReynard the Fox\u003c\/i\u003e (1919). \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith the outbreak of the war, Masefield became an orderly at a hospital in France. He also took charge of a motorboat ambulance service at Gallipoli in 1915. After the Allied failure there, Masefield visited America and undertook a series of lectures in support of the war effort. IN 1930 he was appointed Poet Laureate, and five years later the much-loved Masefield was awarded the Order of Merit. He died on May 12, 1967, and his ashes were interred in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe two Kay Harker books, \u003ci\u003eThe Midnight Folk\u003c\/i\u003e (1927) and \u003ci\u003eThe Box of Delights \u003c\/i\u003e(1935), are Masefield's lasting contribution to children's fantasy literature. \u003ci\u003eThe Box of Delights\u003c\/i\u003e is now an established Christmas favourite and as much a part of the season as Dickens's \u003ci\u003eA Christmas Carol\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eMadeleine L'Engle\u003c\/b\u003e (1918-2007) was an American writer best known for her Young Adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning \u003ci\u003eA Wrinkle in Time \u003c\/i\u003eand its sequels \u003ci\u003eA Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eAn Acceptable Time\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 256\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.77 x 8.52 x 5.78 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 14, 2008\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42701189546047,"sku":"9781590172902","price":22.74,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/fd6d6aee4724e89ca222b180eee4393c.webp?v=1765019679","url":"https:\/\/dhlswag.com\/products\/the-midnight-folk-hardcover","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}