Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Viking Australia (2012). Australian Children's Classics Series. Illustrated by Allison Colpoys. 214pp. 216x135mm, 348g
Description
'Without doubt Judy was the worst of the seven, probably because she was the cleverest.'Her father, Captain Woolcot, found his vivacious, cheeky daughter impossible - but seven children were really too much for him and most of the time they ran wild at their rambling riverside home, Misrule.Step inside and meet them all - dreamy Meg, and Pip, daring Judy, naughty Bunty, Nell, Baby and the youngest, 'the General'. Come and share in their lives, their laughter and their tears.
User reviews
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
This is a delightful story of a large family growing up in Sydney in the 1880s. It reminded me of Eight Cousin's, I think any fan of L.M. Alcott, or E. Nesbit's The Railway Children will enjoy this book.
(spoiler)(big spoiler)
I am traumatised by the ending. Four pages of XXX terrified and dying, and
(spoiler)(big spoiler)
I am traumatised by the ending. Four pages of XXX terrified and dying, and
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the rest of them gathered around helpless. And I cannot get my hands on any of the promised sequels. Arg! Show Less
LibraryThing member electrascaife
A passel of siblings in Australia get up to sundry hijinks. They have a too-severe military father and an uncomfortably young but sweet stepmother. The dad essentially beats them, but haha it's fine, apparently. And there's some borderline predatory views of young girls in there, for good measure.
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Yoicks. This one hasn't aged well in the slightest. I'd recommend giving it a hard pass. Show Less
LibraryThing member seldombites
Seven Little Australians is a charming Australian children's classic that is just as appealing to adults as it is to children. It is refreshing to read a book that doesn't moralise the way many children's books of the era did. This is an entertaining and uniquely Australian story, with a highly
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unexpected ending, and it deserves a place in everyone's reading list. Show Less
LibraryThing member vietnambutterfly
How I missed reading this earlier I do not know. I happened across this beautifully illustrated centennial edition and thoroughly enjoyed reading of the trials and tributations of Meg, Pip, Judy, Nellie, Bunty,Baby and The General along with their officious father Captain Woolcot and his new wife
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Esther at thier property Misrule and latter Esther's parents' property Yarrahappini where the ultimate sacrifice of Judy takes place. A sequence that brought tears. A beautiful read that stands the test of time Show Less
LibraryThing member Figgles
Australian children's classic is just as readable now as it was when published in 1894. I first read it after the ABC TV series and have re-read it many times since. It still makes me laugh and makes me cry. If you've not read this one then it's time to get a copy. (This time I read a free e-book
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version on the plane home from NSW using the iPad Kobo app so there's no excuse for not reading it). Show Less
LibraryThing member TheWasp
A childrens book written in 1894 by the 24 year old Ethel Turner and set in Australia. I purchased my 2005 National Library of Australia edition at the Murwillumbah Art Gallery which held an exhibition of John Lennox's wonderful paintings used as illustrations for this edition.
The story is about
Although there are a number of "pranks" in this book it also has a very serious side and deals very compassionately with some of the sadder parts of the storyline. Certainly a book that can be appreciated by adults.
The story is about
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the 7 Woolcot children who, we are warned by the author ," not one of the seven is really good, for the very excellent reason that Australian children never are."Although there are a number of "pranks" in this book it also has a very serious side and deals very compassionately with some of the sadder parts of the storyline. Certainly a book that can be appreciated by adults.
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LibraryThing member ghilbrae
I read this book when I was a kid and I have very good memories of it. It was charming and full of adventures that made me laugh and even cry, something which has proven to be quite difficult for me afterwards. So I highly recommend it.
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Challenging, as there were cultural references & slang, etc., that made me feel often confused. I think I got enough of a sense of it, though, to see why it was influential and popular in its own place & time.
LibraryThing member SashaM
This is an interesting short read and a classic of Australian children's literature. But it is most interesting as a look at the way family dynamics have changed. The father , captain Woolcott, is aloof. With no understanding of his own children. His 2nd wife is only 20. His 1st wife having died
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about 3 years before the story is set. He has 6 children from his first wife and 1 from his second. The kids range in age from 1 to 16. And all are used to doing pretty much whatever they please. All the adventures are pretty innocent by today's standards but reading this one to your kids would be a good way to open discussions about how society has changed, parental roles have expanded and technology has changed our lives. Show Less
LibraryThing member wrightja2000
Quite a lot of fun; however, I was quite disturbed by the abusive father and the matter of fact easy he is presented. He is quite a contrast to the children who are described as naughty and wicked, yet the children show real love and compassion. Maybe that was the author's point... ?
LibraryThing member leah152
Oh it was so good to see these seven trouble makers again!
Meg, Pip, Judy, Nell, Bunty, Baby & the General are the seven little Australians in this classic Aussie story. Ruled with military discipline (starting to sound a bit like The Sound of Music lol) by their father, Captain Woolcot but his
I first read this when I was in primary school & loved it. I'm happy to say I love it still! It's a really good story filled with good, clean fun & lots of antics from Judy, Pip & the rest of the crew! :O)
Meg, Pip, Judy, Nell, Bunty, Baby & the General are the seven little Australians in this classic Aussie story. Ruled with military discipline (starting to sound a bit like The Sound of Music lol) by their father, Captain Woolcot but his
Show More
discipline & stern attitude are no match for these mischevous children.I first read this when I was in primary school & loved it. I'm happy to say I love it still! It's a really good story filled with good, clean fun & lots of antics from Judy, Pip & the rest of the crew! :O)
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LibraryThing member therebelprince
The single greatest work of book-length fiction in 19th century Australia (rivalled only by the short stories of Henry Lawson and Steele Rudd) is a children's book. Ethel Turner's masterpiece haunts me, and I think it always will. Turner saw something in the still nascent Australia and its people,
Turner says that not one of the seven children "is really good, for the very excellent reason that Australian children never are... [I]n Australia a model child is - I say it not without thankfulness - an unknown quantity.
It may be that the miasmas of naughtiness develop best in the sunny brilliancy of our atmosphere. It may be that the land and the people are so young-hearted together, and the children's spirits are not crushed and saddened by the shadow of long years' sorrowful history.
There is a lurking sparkle of joyousness and rebellion and mischief in nature here, and therefore in children.”
This is a work by a privileged white woman, no doubt, in a country that committed some grave sins in the 19th century. But as a work for Australian children, none of that should matter. Thank you, Ethel.
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at just the period when the country was breaking free from its imperial roots (but before anyone other than white Anglos were permitted to live there) that I believe helped perpetuate that sense of freedom and difference from Europe. Read passionately by children for a century, I'm not sure if this work will reach the generation now starting school, but I hope so.Turner says that not one of the seven children "is really good, for the very excellent reason that Australian children never are... [I]n Australia a model child is - I say it not without thankfulness - an unknown quantity.
It may be that the miasmas of naughtiness develop best in the sunny brilliancy of our atmosphere. It may be that the land and the people are so young-hearted together, and the children's spirits are not crushed and saddened by the shadow of long years' sorrowful history.
There is a lurking sparkle of joyousness and rebellion and mischief in nature here, and therefore in children.”
This is a work by a privileged white woman, no doubt, in a country that committed some grave sins in the 19th century. But as a work for Australian children, none of that should matter. Thank you, Ethel.
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Subjects
Awards
Australia's Greatest Books (1894)
Language
Original publication date
1894
Physical description
206 p.; 19 cm
ISBN
9780670076871
Local notes
The story of Judy, her parents and six unruly siblings - an Australian family at the end of the nineteenth century.
Part of the Penguin Australian Children's Classics series.
Part of the Penguin Australian Children's Classics series.
Other editions
Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner (Hardcover)