The Runaway

Well I have finally read a Persephone book!  I have 6 of these beautifully designed books on my shelf. But so far I just haven't ventured near my small pile of Persephone books. INfact it's so ridiculous, I actually got this book from the library!   Yes, the ridiculously tiny 'make do whilst the city centre is demolished and rebuilt' library in Oxford city, with the most amazing books in a tiny space! 

This is a children's  book written in 1872.  It went into oblivion until1936 when an artist, who had loved it as a kid, got it reprinted.  in the 40s it was pulled again until Persephone revived it in 2002. 

I really enjoyed it.   Infact it was a great read for be being stuck in the sun on OXford Parkway station.  All the trains were delayed, I soaked up the rays and finished this.  Infact Parkway comes up trumps for places to get stuck at in the sun! 

This book is about a young bored teenage girl who suddenly has to hide a runaway in her house.  Olga has runaway from school as its boring and they feed her dog meat.  The runaway, Olga, is one of the best characters ever! she is full of spirit, life, energy and quirkiness.  I loved her.  OK! The plot is of its time and a bit lame in parts but it is still bloody funny.  It is not full of prudishness, sexism or constraints, It's just two  girls having a bit of a laugh and pulling the wool over the eyes of the adults. It is a bit leftfield though and I think written p before its time. One of the girls  is as mad as a hat and leads the other 'astray' into a world where she has to lie, yet both realise they love deceiving the adults.  Pretending to be a ghost, alarming the butler and almost killing the governess off.  Getting on the roof, being a gem thief, hiding in dark cupboards, pretending to be the ghost of a horse and dressing up as an old woman are all part of this book. Plus the story proves that adults in positions of power are not always right.  Here is a great example of  young women not just bending to the face of authority but actually questioning what justice is and who it is for.  It is not a preachy book at all,  unlike The Water Babies, which was printed at the same time, but is full of humanitarian wisdom and fun, which I really liked.  

An interesting read.