copyright 1962
It was summertime. As usual, the big box fan was blowing
into the living room. I sat in a very tight space between a big, soft armchair
and a hutch. I was very small, and could always squeeze into cozy hiding
spaces. There may have been a lot of activity around me. The console television
was probably on, playing The Brady Bunch or Gilligan’s Island (and not the
reruns). Various conversations may have
been taking place among my many family members. But I was in my own little
world; close to the action but not actually taking part. Instead, I was
wandering around the world of the latest book I picked up. There is a good
chance it was this book since it was one of my very favorites – and it still is!
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase has a bit of everything for
the child’s imagination. You’ll find an
incredibly wealthy family, a kind but very poor old aunt, a beautiful estate, a
cruel governess, a secret passage, a horrible orphanage, an exciting escape,
and most importantly - a perfectly happy ending.
Reading this book, hiding in my safe little corner of the
house, I could experience the thrill of Sylvia’s and Bonnie’s adventures, the
misery of their suffering, and the strength of their companionship, all without
any true danger.
Books were often an
escape from the real world, but that’s not all.
By escaping into an imaginary world, I could gain wisdom and strength
from vicariously experiencing a fictional character’s trials and triumphs. I did not run away from the horrid adults in
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
or experience a grueling two-month journey to find help, but I was able to learn that while many people are kind and
trustworthy, all are not. I did not
have my opulent wardrobe and dazzling toy room ripped away from me, but I
learned that wealth is nowhere near as important as friendly companionship and kindness.
Yes, stories can be an escape from reality, but they can
also teach us lessons that we can take back with us into the real world.
This is another of my favorite childhood books! By the way, now that I've discovered your blog, I'm going backwards through your archive. I'm interested in seeing if you have yet another of my favorites, The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes. Thank you for creating such a delightful tribute to gently worn and much beloved books.
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