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I Capture the Castle

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( 113,829 ratings, 11,894 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
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith is a charming coming-of-age story set in 1930s England, narrated by seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain. She documents her life in journal entries while living with her eccentric family in a crumbling castle. As she navigates the complexities of first love and self-discovery, Cassandra captures the nuances of her quirky family and the arrival of two wealthy American brothers that could change their lives.
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you are captivated by coming-of-age stories filled with charm and nostalgia. It's set in the English countryside and follows a young protagonist navigating the complexities of family, love, and aspirations, all while living in a crumbling castle. Perfect for those who appreciate vivid character development and a touch of whimsy.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

'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 feedback is welcome! 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.

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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.

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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...
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  • I Capture the Castle
    This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met β€” J.K. Rowling This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met β€” 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...
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  • 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...
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