Set in the backdrop of civil war in England in the seventeenth century, ‘The
Children Of The New
Forest’ is one of the most popular classics by Captain Maryat, for youngsters. The story begins when King Charles of England, after being captured by the roundheads, makes an escape from prison. Search for the king leads roundhead troops to the new forest, near which the Beverly mansion lies. Colonel Beverly, a royalist, has died in the
battlefield of Naseby while
fighting on the side of King Charles, leaving behind his four children under the care of an aunt. Roundhead troops suspecting King Charles to be concealed within the mansion burn the house down, and the children reportedly perish in the fire. However they survive, the four children – Edward, Humphrey, Alice and Edith are rescued by Jacob Armitage – a forester in the new forest, who had promised Colonel Beverly to look after his children. The four children are thus taken under the care of Jacob Armitage in his undetected house in the forest. The children’s existence is kept secret from the outside world, and their names are changed from Beverly to Armitage for secrecy of their original identity. The struggle for survival in the forest, filled with numerous adventures, forms the core of the novel. The main character of the story, however, is Edward Beverly who is constantly reminded of his original identity and his position. Although the story mostly revolves round the forest, there are instances of outside news concerning the King coming in, and leading to excitement. As young Edward Beverly grows up, his character matures from a restless young boy to a patient caretaker of his brother and
sisters. He becomes dexterous in his deeds and ultimately goes to the battlefield to fight in his original identity. The story is superbly written, as the reader sees the characters grow and mature and become more responsible, as if in front of their eyes. The story always keeps rolling along, never having a dull phase. The frequent adventures in the forest for sustenance ultimately followed by Edward’s venture in the battlefield raises the story in a special place among all time favorite
adventure novels for children.
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