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I Capture the Castle
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Check link for latest rating. ( 113,829 ratings, 11,894 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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I Capture the Castle
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'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink...’
This is the diary of Cassandra Mortmain, which tells of her extraordinary family and their crumbling castle home.
The universally adored story of Cassandra Mortmain, her mad family, her loves and her heartaches. A perfect novel.
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
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Description
The universally adored story of Cassandra Mortmain, her mad family, her loves and her heartaches. A perfect novel.
'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink...'
This is the diary of Cassandra Mortmain, which tells of her extraordinary family and their crumbling castle home. Cassandra's father was once a famous writer, but now he mainly reads detective novels while the family slides into genteel poverty. Her sister Rose is bored and beautiful, and desperate to marry riches. Their step-mother Topaz has a habit of striding through the countryside wearing only her wellington boots.
But all their lives will soon be transformed by the arrival of new neighbours from America, and Cassandra finds herself falling in love...
BACKSTORY - Get to know Dodie Smith, and be inspired to keep your own diary!
One of the BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World
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?
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith is celebrated for its charming and unique narrative style, capturing the struggles and eccentricities of a young girl and her family with humour and warmth. It resonates with teenagers and adults alike, offering a relatable exploration of what it means to yearn for excitement and understanding. This timeless classic is praised for its relatable characters and engaging storytelling.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780099572886
Publisher: Vintage Publishing
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 August 2012
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vintage Children's Classics
Audience: General / adult, Children, Teenage
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 35.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 199.0mm
Weight: 392g
Pages: 592
About the Author
Dodie Smith was born in Manchester in 1896. Aged 17 she set off for London, determined to become an actress, but she struggled to find work, living off baked beans in freezing hostels. While working at the famous Heals department store, Dodie turned to writing plays instead, and her first was an overnight sensation - the newspapers excitedly declared 'Shopgirl Turns Playwright!'. During the war she moved to Hollywood with her husband, and it was there, spurned on by regret and homesickness for the English countryside she'd left behind, that Dodie began writing I Capture the Castle. When a friend gave Dodie a dalmatian puppy (presented in a hat box!) this began a life-long love of the spotty dogs. Dodie's well-loved novel 101 Dalmatians was inspired by her experiences of raising fifteen puppies. She lived in a ramshackle cottage with her husband and many other animals until her death in 1990, aged 94.
Also by Dodie Smith
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I Capture the Castle
VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS - Bound to be beautiful A beautiful hardback edition of one of the funny, heartbreaking, iconic coming-of-age novels. 'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink' is the first line of this timeless, witty and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of...Hardback$3600Elsewhere:$4000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
I Capture the Castle
Meet ten of literature's most iconic heroines, jacketed in bold portraits by female photographers from around the world. 'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink...' This is the story of Cassandra, precocious and charming, who begins a journal detailing her life with her bohemian family in a crumbling old castle. On the cusp of adulthood, Cassandra meets the family's...Paperback$2400Elsewhere:$2600Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips tomorrow -
The Hundred and One Dalmatians
A special 32-page picture book adaptation of Dodie Smith’s much-loved classic story, perfect for children aged 3 years and up. When Missis and Pongo’s darling Dalmatian puppies are stolen, they know just who to suspect… the evil Cruella de Vil! She’s enough to scare the spots off a pup and she would love nothing more than to turn them into...Paperback$1999Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
The Hundred and One Dalmatians & The Starlight Barking
A gift edition of this classic tale of pups and villains, with vibrant illustrations by the award-winning Alex T Smith, creator of Claude.‘As comforting as hot buttered toast’ – Guardian THE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANSWhen dastardly Cruella De Vil steals a whole litter of Dalmatian puppies to make a new fur coat, the puppies’ parents, Pongo and Missus, lose no...Paperback$2299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Pre-orderThe Hundred and One Dalmatians
A deluxe foiled gift hardback – celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dodie Smith’s classic story. When Missis and Pongo’s darling Dalmatian puppies are stolen, they know just who to suspect … the evil Cruella de Vil! Can the Dalmatian parents and their furry friends rescue their precious pups before they’re turned into a furry coat? Peter Bently and Steven Lenton’s...Hardback$2999Unit price /UnavailableOut 2 Feb 2027Pre-order -
I Capture the Castle
This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met — J.K. Rowling This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met — J.K. Rowling 'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink' is the first line of this timeless, witty, and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished...PaperbackSold Out
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