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An Episode of Sparrows

A Virago Modern Classic
4.23 goodreads logo

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( 1,636 ratings, 278 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden tells the story of a young girl named Lovejoy Mason who, amidst the post-war streets of London, discovers a packet of seeds. Her small act of planting them in a neglected garden brings unexpected changes to her life and the lives of those around her, highlighting themes of hope, resilience, and transformation.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy heartwarming stories with a touch of magic and resilience, this book may appeal to you. It weaves the tale of a young girl who transforms a barren city lot into a garden, exploring themes of hope, friendship, and the power of community. Perfect for those who appreciate a children's classic that captures both imagination and real-world challenges.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From the esteemed author of Black Narcissus and The River, comes another captivating classic novel about a poor girl striving to create beauty among the bombsites of postwar London.

* Featured on Virago.co.uk

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Someone has dug up the private garden in the Square and taken buckets of dirt, and Miss Angela Chesney of the Garden Committee is sure that a gang of boys from Catford Street must be to blame. Angela's sister, Olivia, isn't so sure. She wonders why the neighbourhood children—the 'sparrows' she sometimes watches from her window—have to be locked out of the garden: don't they have a right to enjoy the place too?

But nobody has any idea what sends neighbourhood waif Lovejoy Mason and her few friends in search of 'good garden earth'. Still less do they imagine where their investigation will lead them—to a struggling restaurant, a bombed-out church, and, at the heart of it all, a hidden garden.

An Episode of Sparrows by Rumer Godden explores the power of friendship and the battle against class barriers in a post-war London setting, weaving a tale of mystery and discovery that captures the enduring spirit of the young at heart.

Series: Virago Modern Classics

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    An Episode of Sparrows
    Someone has dug up the private garden in the Square and taken buckets of dirt, and Miss Angela Chesney of the Garden Committee is sure that a gang of boys from Catford Street must be to blame. Angela's sister, Olivia, isn't so sure. She wonders why the neighbourhood children—the 'sparrows' she sometimes watches from her window—have to be locked out...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Rumer Godden's An Episode of Sparrows is celebrated for its masterful construction and realistic portrayal of children, blending both a fairytale element and emotional depth. Jacqueline Wilson praises its enduring impact, highlighting how vividly the characters remain in readers' minds. The story is described as sentimental and satisfying, with Godden's understanding of human nature and prose evoking a heartfelt response. Reviews commend the novel's ability to uplift readers while showcasing an intricate cast of characters and a poetic, fairy godmother-like resolution.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781844088515

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 17 April 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 196g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Rumer Godden (1907-98) was the acclaimed author of over sixty works of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Born in England, she and her siblings grew up in Narayanganj, India, and she later spent many years living in Calcutta and Kashmir. Several of her novels were made into films, including Black Narcissus, The Greengage Summer and The River, which was filmed by Jean Renoir. She was appointed OBE in 1993.

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