I Capture the Castle
by Dodie Smith
List Price:
Our Price: $4.75
You Save: $10.24 (68%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.64 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Dodie SmithEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003-04-01
ISBN: 031231616X
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Book Reviews of I Capture the Castle
Book Review: A 'CASTLE' IN BRITAIN........THAT'S WHAT REELED ME IN!
Summary: 5 Stars
In a past life, I lived in a castle; it is the only thing that can explain this obsession I have. I even have castles on my checks! And, since I'm an Aglophile, I gravitate towards books from Britian. Anyway, I get a lot of ideas for books from AMAZON'S marvelous 'lists' and when I saw something that said, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, my curiosity got the best of me. And then, reviewers were comparing the author to Austen and Bronte and the heroine to Jane Eyre or Elizabeth Bennett. Since these people are referring to my all time favorite books, I immediately ordered this one. The cover of the book has a castle on it and the back has a recommendation from J K Rowling, another favorite author! WOW! I couldn't wait to start this book.
Well, despite not seeing any similarities between the above authors to Dodie Smith (who also wrote the classic 101 DALMATIONS) or my beloved heroines to the seventeen year-old Cassandra Mortmain, this is still an enthralling read.
This novel was published in 1948 but takes place in the 1930's. James Mortmain has written a very successful novel called "Jacob Wrestling." He makes quite a bit of money and then, years later is sent to prison for 3 months for dramatically brandishing a cake knife at his wife during a family picnic (a neighbor 'tells'). When he returns from his incarceration, he has writer's block that spans decades. He also impetuously signs a 40-year lease on a ramshackle castle that is hundreds of years old. He promptly hides out in the tower all day, every day to read novels (while his family thinks he is writing). Cassandra, an aspiring writer, tells the story through her detailed journals.
In addition to the father and Cassandra, the family now consists of the beautiful and selfish older sister Rose, a brother Tom, and an eccentric and free spirited Topaz, the beautiful stepmother (their mother has died years before of natural causes). There is also a young servant boy, Stephen (who is madly in love with Cassandra). Since the dad is useless, the family sells not only the furniture but also personal belongings to buy food. Stephen tends the garden and volunteers to get another job to support the family that should be paying him. To add drama and romance, the handsome and charming Cotton brothers move into the manor adjacent to the castle. Mr. Mortmain is supposed to be paying rent to the owner of this estate (he doesn't).
One can really imagine what is going to happen from just reading the paragraph before this one. Yes, this book is a tad dated and predictable but trust me, there is a delicious twist at the end to satiate all of us romantics who love the fairy-tale ending. Cassandra is absolutely charming and we really pull for this young lady. I loved reading this novel; it was so easy to get into and easy to follow. The story was sweet (if you ignore the slattern father and bratty sister) with nice language and no $*x.........very classic. And of course, the other star of this tale is the wonderful castle!
Classics Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Classics Books
Native sonby Richard Wright
Perennial Library; Published: 1987; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.75
Native Son: And How Bigger Was Bornby Richard Wright
Perennial; Published: 1993-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $60.00
Raphael and the Noble Taskby Catherine Salton
Harper; Published: 2000-10-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.49
Price in other shops:
Island (Perennial Classics)by Aldous Huxley
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Published: 2002-07-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
A Tree Grows in Brooklynby Betty Smith
Harper; Published: 2001-11-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.17
Price in other shops:
The Great Divorce CDby C. S. Lewis
HarperAudio; Published: 2003-11-25; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.01
Price in other shops:
Great Expectationsby Charles Dickens
Macmillan Pub Co; Published: 1979-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
This Side of Paradiseby Fitzgerald
Scribner Paper Fiction; Published: 1988-09-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.95
Price in other shops:
Black Coffee (Poirot)by Agatha Christie
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2002-12-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $68.32
Slouching Towards Bethlehem (1960s)by Joan Didion
Flamingo; Published: 2001-04-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $22.25
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
The Diary of Mattie Spenserby Sandra Dallas
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 1998-05-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.)by Betty Smith
Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Published: 2006-05-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops:
Midnight in Austenland: A Novelby Shannon Hale
Bloomsbury USA; Published: 2012-01-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.20
Price in other shops:
The Lost Art of Keeping Secretsby Eva Rice
Plume; Published: 2007-03-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.12
Price in other shops:
Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romancesby John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson
Speak; Published: 2009-10-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.91
Price in other shops:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Societyby Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows
Dial Press; Published: 2009-05-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
101 Dalmatians (Puffin story books)by Dodie Smith
Puffin; Published: 1989-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.09
Price in other shops:
The Little White Horseby Elizabeth Goudge
Puffin Books; Puffin; Published: 2001-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.79
Price in other shops:
Cold Comfort Farm (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)by Stella Gibbons
Penguin Classics; Published: 2006-03-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
I Capture the CastleRelease date: 2003-12-23; DVD
Best price: $17.18
Price in other shops: