The Enchanted Castle (Wordsworth Children's Classics)

This was one of my favorite stories as a child. Similar to Harry Potter.

I purchased this to read with my nine year old because we love The Railway Children, but this one doesn’t stand the test of time. Around the fourth chapter, several racial slurs are used to describe a child who has dressed himself in blackface to play tricks on people. We decided not to finish it.

Are we ready to talk about the racism and xenophobia in this book that's totally unnecessary to the story?

This is a really good book. However, there is a portail of black face in which the character you the n-word. I was reading aloud so I edited out the offending word and explained that black face is not and has never been ok. If the child had been reading it herself she wouldn’t have had that. So, please read this book to your child with editing and explanation or, if they are older, be sure to explain that it portrays some things that are not ok.

E. Nesbit had that rare ability to dig up magical fantasies in all sorts of mundane places, and produce fantasy adventures that kids would actually want to have.And nowhere is this more evident than in "The Enchanted Castle," a charming little wisp of a story about four children and their adventures with a magical ring that keeps causing all sorts of problems -- and no, I'm not sure why the book is named after the castle and not after the ring. Nesbit's writing adds a lot of dimensions to the story, both horrifying and enchanting, which makes up for a distinct lack of world-building and plot.Kathleen, Jimmy and Jerry are three siblings on vacation, under the authority of a French governess who more or less lets them do what they want. One day they decide to go exploring around the village where they are staying, and uncover a secret cave that leads to the Enchanted Castle, an idyllic country estate covered in statues and hedges. Before long, one of the boys wakes a Princess from her enchanted slumber, and she shows them the magical jewels that she owns, including a magic ring.Well, it turns out that the Princess is actually the housekeeper's niece Mabel, but the ring is actually magic -- it turns Mabel invisible for the better part of a day, and even when she gets it off, other people discover what it's like to be unseen. But it turns out that the ring has all kinds of magical effects that make it a pretty dangerous tool, including bringing the cobbled-together dummies known as the Ugly-Wuglies to life, allowing the kids to see the statues come to life, Jimmy is aged into Scrooge McDuck, and random wishes are granted."The Enchanted Castle" is a story that is entertaining despite a lack of... well, story. The plot is essentially that the kids just sort of bumble from one ring-related magical situation to the next, doing their best to keep the mayhem out of the eyes of the adults (although only with mixed success). It's only in the last few chapters that any kind of background or explanation for the magic is given, and it's almost as an afterthought -- it's as though Nesbit belatedly realized she had to wrap things up.As a result, the assorted stories are wisps of entertainment (except the rather racist "conjurer" segment) that just sort of float by, following the kids as they make mistakes and uncover the nature of the magic ring. A lot of the whimsy of the book is reliant on Nesbit's luscious descriptions of the Enchanted Castle's grounds and buildings, including the hauntingly exquisite descriptions of the Grecian statuary coming to life on the hillsides. On the flipside, the whole Ugly-Wuglies story is uncanny-valley nightmare fuel, courtesy of her writing style.The kids are classic Nesbit -- they're vaguely upper-crust, excessively British and prone to bickering with one another as they hurtle through their adventures, but fairly good at keeping their nerve unless animated composite dummies are involved. And despite their initial manipulations of Mademoiselle, Nesbit also follows their growing friendship with their French governess and their discoveries that she is not merely a generic grown-up, but a person with her own history and experiences and intelligence. In fact, she's the impetus for much of the climactic confrontation, despite her inexplicable use of "thee."Without much of a central plot, "The Enchanted Castle" is amusing for the experience of reading it -- like a bunch of childhood fantasies come to life. Just don't expect much substance under the magical whimsy.

I was four years old when the 1979 BBC production was aired for the first and only time on UK television and I can still remember it vividly. It had such an effect that I have tried in vain to obtain a copy both before and since the advent of the Internet but to no avail - the BBC has not released or repeated the show despite the huge cult following the show received.Naturally, mother and father bought me the tv-tie-in novel which was one of the first novels I read, just a few years later. That particular copy, like the ugly-wugglies, had taken on a life of its own and secreted itself somewhere in the bowels of my parents' house and remains elusive (or, like a number of my Star Wars figures was probably given to the church jumble sale behind my back!).Alas, I turned to Amazon to buy my 2 year old daughter a copy to read to her at bedtime. Each night for a fortnight we read a chapter (or half of the more substantial ones) and from the off she herself was enchanted. The idea of magic rings, secret passages and statues coming to life thrilled her and delighted me thirty odd years on. I had to spend some time explaining to her, being only two, what exactly invisibility is (now she pretends to be invisible in an effort to avoid bed!) and she has remarked that the odd shop mannequin resembles an ugly-wuggly. The stories have had an effect and stimulated her imagination.The book itself is beautifully written and although the 1907 turn of phrase is not quite 'street' it flows and has a wonderful nostalgic power (and my daughter has since remarked such things as 'it's a splendid morning' to our great amusement).Nesbit was clearly on form when she picked up the pen to compose this volume as there is absolutely no filler and the adventures come thick and fast with the magic of the castle weaving its way through the lives of the characters and mischievously dropping them into awkward pickles that the children must resolve because the adults just wouldn't understand. The ultimate message is clear and affecting, there is magic in life, you just have to recognise it - oh, and be careful what you wish for!One little note to heed, is that if reading this to a child, be aware that the racial 'n' word appears, which I didn't want to use to a two year old, but it's easily avoided - there is a scene where one of the characters 'blacks-up' in an effort to convince punters at a fair that he is an Indian fakir. You are rather led into the event before you realise what is happening but we used it as an opportunity to explain the beauty of having many races in the world. As Nesbit shows us, only unspoiled minds can see magic, fortunately they are also colour-blind.But this story is a gem, all things considered, and will appeal to readers of all ages, especially those of us who believe, or need reminding, that there is some magic left in the worldAfter I read my daughter The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, I was able to show her the 1988 BBC production - how sad that this is not possible for The Enchanted Castle. Come on BBC, make us happy and release this wonderful serial.

i didn't complete reading this book. It's full of narrative rather than the actions. I know it's classic but too much of description about something will leave you( especially me) boring. If you thought of doing read aloud to your kid of 7-9 years of age, i donot recommend it. Maybe it suits other age group.

A lovely book but needs a good reader to enjoy it on their own. Otherwise, be prepared to read it to the child.

This is a wonderful book, full of lively twists and ideas. As a first work, Nesbit shows her brilliant ideas in an impeccable way.There is nothing like the charm of a magic ring that is borrowed from Aladdin's magic lamp. But the subplot turns the motif into a lovely romance.Lord Yalding is ultimately married to the french lady.

I bought this book for a nine year old girl whose greatest passion is reading.This is a lovely story of two children who discover an enchanted castle and the other world they find there.This is the kind of story that is not only entertaining and exciting but let's the immagination run wild.I can give no less than 5* as it really is a lovely book,I read it myself and the nine year old?Absolutly enjoyed it.apart from that the finish and artwork of the sleeve is beautiful.