Customer Reviews
Wonderfully written, sweet story - By: V. Carlin, 11 Jul 2008 
The brilliance of the Railway Children is that E Nesbit refuses to talk down to her readers - she handles a variety of complicated emotions, & she does so in a way that enables us to see things we wouldn't have worked out for ourselves about the character, but that are very true & beautifully observed. Okay, a few too many things happen to these kids - even the film removed one or two sensational twists too many - but those things alll bring new insights & emotional rewards. It's a great book.
A bit oldfashioned but still fantastic! - By: Mehajabeen Farid, 17 May 2008 
This story is about some children who are shattered after the disappearance of their father but the railway line is always there to lift their sad spirits; so are the Old Gentleman & the porter, Perks. Nevertheless, how will they ever find out the reason of their dear father went missing?
I think that this book is a bit old fashioned but it is still very, very, very good; the author is the next (or actuallly the previous) Agatha Christy!
E Nesbit is the author of this book & many, many others. Some of the titles of her other works include: `The Amulet', `The Phoenix & the Carpet', & `The Five Children & It'
Why am I out of step? - By: N. Wilson, 19 Mar 2006 
This is, for me, by far the poorest of E. Nesbit's works - & possibly the most currently popular? All her books, of course, are outstanding; it seems that I prefer the more imaginative ones. If you have not done so, miss reading none of them! While her social awareness is never missing, she does recalll for us a world which had its flaws ... but in which one longed to have grown up, however mistakenly!
A classic writer's classic book - By: DocMartin, 06 Jan 2006 Before J.K.Rowling & Roald Dahl, there was E.E.Nesbitt; the most prolific & inventive children's author of alll time, even if the inventor of Harry Potter may be close to usurping that title. Even though her books were written a century ago, such was the universal appeal of her themes & the ease with which children could identify with her characters that she has remained in print to this day & the stories are just as good now as they were then.
As with any children's classic - & "The Railway Children" is both a classic & most probably her best book - its appeal lies in a cracking plot, good character development & adult accessibility; parents are as keen to read as their children are to listen. The plot is simple: well-to-do-kids living ideal life in London suddenly have to "play at being poor" in the country after Daddy mysteriously disappears. After a series of adventures, alll based around the railway that runs near their house, events coalesce into a satisfying finale.
The story centres on Roberta (Bobbie), the eldest daughter through whose eyes the story is narrated. She is one of my own favourite literature heroines and, as she suffers loss & hardship; & gains friendship & love, I would challlenge even the most hard-boiled cynic not to shed the odd tear. The story is not, however, nearly as fluffy as alll this may intimate. Like Rowling, Nesbitt loved to include magic & enchantment in her stories (it is, perhaps, ironic that her best tale contains none although it is certainly enchantING). Like Rowling, her stories also tend to have a dark side: many contain, & even hinge around, an absent, idealised father, reflecting the loss of the writer's own parent when she was just six. I've worn my way through two copies already!). Buy dozens! Spread them around your own children, their friends, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, neighbours ... any child who can manage joined-up writing will be enchanted by this story - & so will their parents
A fabulous book to remember forever. - By: , 17 Mar 2001 This is an enchanting book for people who love to read. I read the book in four days for it was so good I couldn't put it down. Adults will love this just as much as children & the good thing is everyone can relate to the children in the book.
