Carrie's War
| Carrie's War | |
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 Carrie's War Book Cover |
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| Author(s) | Nina Bawden |
| Illustrator | None |
| Cover artist | Jason Walker |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Victor Gollancz Ltd |
| Publication date | 1973 |
| Published in English |
1974 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
Carrie's War is a 1973 children's novel by Nina Bawden, set during the Second World War and following two evacuees, Carrie and her younger brother Nick. It is a common fixture in secondary schools.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Carrie Willow and her brother Nick are evacuated to Wales during the Second World War. They stay with the bullying Mr. Evans, and his gentle but weak sister, whom they call "Auntie Lou." The children befriend another young evacuee, Albert Sandwich, who is staying with Mr. Evans' other sister, the dying Mrs Gotobed. They also befriend Mrs. Gotobed's husband's relative, Mr. Johnny Gotobed who has cerebral palsy, and her housekeeper, Hepzibah Green. The housekeeper tells the children about a curse on the family which concerns a skull kept in the library. According to the tale, the curse would activate if the skull is removed from the house.
Later their mother comes to visit them but nothing is said about Mr Evans. Carrie's birthday arrives and Albert kisses her on the cheek for a present and she is overjoyed by this. Mrs Gotobed passes away after this. The children believe Mr Evans has stolen her will so that Hepzibah and Mr Johnny are out of his deceased sister's house. Auntie Lou meets an American soldier called Major Cass Harper and becomes very friendly with him (keeping this secret from her brother who would not approve). Mrs Willow sends a letter saying to come home and so they try to reveal the truth of the stolen will. Auntie Lou departs to marry Major Harper at this point.
Thirty years later, Carrie's children return and discover that Hepzibah, Mr Johnny and Albert are still alive and that the fire was from Mr Johnny playing with matches. Mr Evans is revealed dead after a few weeks of grief and loneliness of his sister's departure to America.
[edit] Awards and nominations
In 1993, Carrie's War won the Phoenix Award, which is awarded annually to a book originally published twenty years previously without having received a major award at that time (in this case, 1973).
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Carrie's War has been adapted twice for television by the BBC, first in 1974, and then again in 2004. The original 1974 version starred Juliet Waley as Carrie and Rosalie Crutchley as Hepzibah. The more recent 2004 BBC version (broadcast in America on PBS - Masterpiece Theatre in 2006) starred Keeley Fawcett as Carrie, Alun Armstrong as Mr. Evans, Geraldine McEwan as Mrs. Gotobed, Eddie Cooper as Albert Sandwich and Pauline Quirke as Hepzibah. The latter version is available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK.
A stage adaptation by Novel Theatre ran at Sadler's Wells, 2006 – 2007 and completed a successful West End run starring Prunella Scales June – September 2009. The production embarked on a major UK tour in autumn 2010 starring Brigit Forsyth and Hannah Waterman.
[edit] External links
- Carrie's War at the Internet Movie Database (1974 adaptation)
- Carrie's War at the Internet Movie Database (2004 adaptation)
- Carrie's War at the BFI (1974 adaptation)
