# The Midnight Folk - Hardcover

by **John Masefield** (Author), **Madeleine L'Engle** (Afterword by), **Rowland Hilder** (Illustrator)

_The Midnight Folk_ introduces readers to Kay Harker, the orphaned boy who is also the hero of John Masefield's classic Christmas fantasy, _The Box of Delights_. Kay lives in a vast old country house, and is looked after by an unpleasant duo: the oily and egregious Sir Theopompous and the petulant and punitive Sylvia Daisy Pouncer. In her zeal to educate Kay on the finer points of Latin grammar, Sylvia Daisy has even taken away all of Kay's toys. Life seems very dull, until out of an old family portrait steps Kay's great-grandfather, a sea captain, who, if legend is to be believed, made off with a fabulous treasure.

Soon Kay is engaged in a thrilling quest that begins each night as the clock strikes twelve, taking him into the enchanted and dangerous world of the Midnight Folk: pirates, highwaymen, talking animals, and a gang of witches led by none other than Sylvia Daisy (in cahoots, as in _The Box of Delights_, with the arch-villain Abner Brown). In the end, it is that ragtag team of old toys that rallies to support Kay and save the day.

A book to set beside C.S. Lewis's _Narnia_ tales and Joan Aiken's _Wolves of Willoughby Chase_\--not to mention the Harry Potter series--_The Midnight Folk_ is a wonderful and enthralling contribution to the great English tradition of children's literature, beloved by adults and children alike.

### Author Biography

**John Masefield** (1878-1967) was born in Herefordshire, England. After being orphaned at an early age, he was sent to sea aboard the school-ship HMS _Conway_ in preparation for a naval career. Masefield's apprenticeship was disastrous--he was classified as a Distressed British Seaman after a voyage around Cape Horn--and he soon left the ship. Arrangements were then made for him to join another ship in New York. But Masefield had other plans: he deserted ship vowing "to be a writer, come what might."

At seventeen Masefield was living as a vagrant in America. He found work as a bar hand but eventually secured employment at a carpet factory. Thinking that journalism might allow him to write for a living, Masefield returned to England in 1897.

Masefield's first volume of oetry, _Salt-Water Ballads_, was published in 1902, however, it was not until the publication of _The Everlasting Mercy_ in 1911 that he made his mark on the literary scene. The success of his second book was followed by the publication of several long narrative poems, including _Dauber_ (1914) and _Reynard the Fox_ (1919).

With the outbreak of the war, Masefield became an orderly at a hospital in France. He also took charge of a motorboat ambulance service at Gallipoli in 1915. After the Allied failure there, Masefield visited America and undertook a series of lectures in support of the war effort. IN 1930 he was appointed Poet Laureate, and five years later the much-loved Masefield was awarded the Order of Merit. He died on May 12, 1967, and his ashes were interred in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey.

The two Kay Harker books, _The Midnight Folk_ (1927) and _The Box of Delights_ (1935), are Masefield's lasting contribution to children's fantasy literature. _The Box of Delights_ is now an established Christmas favourite and as much a part of the season as Dickens's _A Christmas Carol_.

**Madeleine L'Engle** (1918-2007) was an American writer best known for her Young Adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning _A Wrinkle in Time_ and its sequels _A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters,_ and _An Acceptable Time_.

**Number of Pages:** 256

**Dimensions:** 0.77 x 8.52 x 5.78 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** October 14, 2008

## Details

- **Price:** 19.95 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 19.95 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Midnight Folk - Hardcover

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