The story has been criticised for romanticising aristocratic England. Although not specifically mentioned in the book, all indications are that, since the real house and garden were located in Great Shelford, Pearce placed Tom and Hatty’s garden in, or very close to, the renamed Great Barley. And running throughout, the omnipresent River Cam became the River Say. Oddly, the cathedral city of Ely, which figures prominently in Tom, retained its real name. And the major city of Cambridge became Castleford minus the famous university. Thus, the villages of Great Shelford and Little Shelford became Great Barley and Little Barley. It’s a convenient trick.įor the purpose of some of her fiction, including Tom, Pearce put a creative spin on the Cambridgeshire countryside. This allows her to deviate from reality, placing objects where she likes them. The author grew up in Cambridgeshire but calls it Castleford here. SETTING OF TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN This painting by Charles Robinson shows how a garden can seem more alive at night. This middle grade novel is an example of low fantasy. Night = day as the fantasy world = the real world. In Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce the moon is heavily symbolic. A Cleverly Told Modern Story #booktube #bookish #readingvlog
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