But she did not like to suggest the idea of carrying him. One step of hers would have covered about twelve steps of his, so he would have been forced to run very fast, to keep up. It's a really sweet story, and I'm happy to have my own copy now!įor one thing, there was the problem of taking steps. I must say that out of all the characters, the Professor is my favorite. They're the ones that are only a few inches tall. It's about a little girl who stumbles on the people of Lilliput from Gulliver's Travels, who have migrated from their home when Gulliver took a few of them to England. I read it when I was a little girl, and it was fun to read again.

Lots to think about and a great action packed story.Ī sweet, charming story that I found in a used bookshop. The same dog is involved in a lovely scene where he finds an unwilling surrogate puppy.Īlthough in places the writing did seem to be heavy going, especially as a read aloud it had alot going for it. We thought the part where a dog is speaking in his head about his love for his owner was beautifully observed and touching. Although the Lieutenant is obsessed with the hunt he does question changing ideas of what is cruel to animals and values his horses and hounds above anyone.

Even more hilarious was the repetition of the Lieutenant's horse themed gadgets, as each one was introduced it became more and more funny. Maria realising she was being followed, leads her guardians on a wild goose chase, this part was written with great wit. There was some very funny parts in the story. There were some parts that dealt with hunting and killing, some parts that made uncomfortable reading but obviously wildlife poses daily threat to the small people so perhaps talk of destroying young of wildlife has to be considered from the view of a six inch person. There were lots of interesting philosophical thoughts, moral dilemmas of power, friendship, punishment and the definition of right and wrong.

We really enjoyed the descriptions of life experienced from a six inch tall persons perspective. Maria has guardians who are plotting to steal her inheritance, when these unscrupulous people discover Maria has small Lilliputian friends they vow to stop at nothing to capture some of her friends to sell to the circus. Maria is a 10 yr old orphan living in a dilapidated mansion several times the size of Buckingham palace.

Mistress Masham's Repose by T.H. White