“If I show my baby clothes–three of everything and of the very best quality–they’ll know that I’m somebody.”
So says Margaret Thursday, the larger-than-life heroine of Noel Streatfeild’s Thursday’s Child. This is Margaret’s refrain and the chorus sung about her throughout the whole novel, and it’s the knowledge that gives Margaret the moxie to rise above her beggarly surroundings, first as the ward of the church and then as an orphan in a horrible orphanage. This isn’t just Margaret’s story, though; it’s also the story of the Beresford children: Lavinia, Peter, and Horatio. Lavinia, too old to be an inmate in the orphanage, is hired out as a scullery maid to kind Lady Corkberry, whose estate is in the same village as the orphanage. Peter and Horatio go to live at the orphanage, but fortunately they come to the orphanage on the same day as Margaret, so Margaret becomes their surrogate sister in Lavinia’s absence. The orphans endure all sorts of ill treatment from the orphanage Matron, with Margaret of the indomitable spirit the child most targeted for abuse. There are even a couple of mysteries involving the true identity of Margaret (who was also sent fifty-two pounds a year for her upkeep and schooling until this allotment mysterious stopped) and the Beresford children, who are poor but behave and speak like those with a genteel upbringing. The story ends satisfactorily for the orphans, like all good children’s fiction must.
One thing I really like about this story is the variety of settings and situations the characters are placed in: an orphanage, an estate, a canal boat, a theatre troupe. This offers the reader the opportunity to experience many different layers of 19th century life in England. This variety of settings necessitates a wide cast of characters, which in turn showcases Streatfeild’s talent for richly drawn characterization. From the cruel Matron to kind Ms. Snelston, the village school mistress, the characters are finely drawn. This is one description of the sadistic Matron:
When the orphans were lined up ready to march to school Matron came out of her office. Her face was no longer red but a sort of greeny-yellow, and her upholstered chest inside her black dress was heaving as if she had run upstairs.
Matron literally makes the orphans quake in their poorly-fitted boots; Ms. Jones, her lackey, is just as convincingly dreadful:
Miss Jones expressed astonishment by using the word “burglar” like a piano. She started on a low note and rose almost an octave.
Can’t you just hear it? After this musical eruption, Miss Jones goes on to punish a little girl by beating her with a hairbrush.
Although I really enjoy Streatfeild‘s writing style and her ability to paint word pictures, I had a hard time figuring out if this is something I would actually give a child to read. On one hand is the story–it is a fabulous adventure that is reminiscent at times of so many other classic stories of self-sufficient orphans. On the other hand is the extremely cruel treatment that the orphans suffer at the hands of the Matron and other “caretakers” at the orphanage. Matron does receive something of a comeuppance at the hands of the townspeople, but the cruelty to the children is still heart-wrenching. I admit that I am super-sensitive to stories of cruelty to children, but this one seems a little over-the-top for today’s sensibilities. It makes me think about how much the world has changed since this story was first published in 1970. Still, I am eager to read the sequel to this story, Far to Go, to learn what happens to Margaret Thursday.
Noel Streatfeild is an author whose works I did not read as a child, and I am happy now to make up for lost time, despite my misgivings over this particular title. She wrote almost forty books for children, so I have plenty to keep me busy. I’m glad that Kathleen Kelly mentioned her Shoe books as being “completely wonderful” or else I might never have known to seek out her stories. (Random House, 1970)
I have a lot of her shoe books sitting on my shelf still awaiting my attention. I liked the first one I read, picked up several more, and just haven’t gotten to them yet. I look forward to reading them though.
This book sounds intriguing. I can’t say without reading it, of course, whether or not I’d hand it over to my kids. But cruelty to children in orphanages still happens to a considerable degree so in some senses it’s not over-the-top. But that doesn’t erase the duty to protect our children’s emotions and so that’s something to think about!
Hmm… I read the Shoe books as a child (and still have their paperbacks on my shelf), but didn’t know the author wrote other books. (I think “Ballet Shoes” might have originally been a TV movie, or something, that got me to check them out.) Will have to look into this.
I also always assumed that “Noel” Streatfield, since it wasn’t spelled “Noelle,” was a guy. 🙂
I’ve never read this author, but she’s been on my list since You’ve Got Mail.
(Which must mean I’m not highly motivated, considering how old that movie is now… But your review revives the interest. Thanks!)
Nice write-up. I’ve never read any of her books, ‘though I’m familiar with the author. I’ll have to see if my library has this one.
We read Ballet Shoes and Theater Shoes a few years ago and LOVED them. I need to add this book to our list! Thanks!
I haven’t read this book by Streatfield, but it sounds intriguing. I wonder if it’s really any more scary and harsh than many of the books marketed for children nowadays. Maybe it’s more realistic than, say, A Series of Unfortunate Events or others of that ilk?
I love, love, LOVE Noel Streatfield, and have since I was a little girl. I do believe this is one I haven’t read, though…thanks so much for the review!
Hope you’ll stop by my review and say hello!
Cindy at Cindy’s Book Club
Sounds fascinating – I really like the cover! I could see myself reading this around 5th or 6th grade, given the subject matter.
And I just learned that “Noel” is a she!! I haven’t read her works yet, but I too am glad that Kathleen Kelly liked them and advocated for them! A lot of them were out of print. They’re definitely on my life list of reading.