Carrie's War
Encyclopedia
Carrie's War is a 1973 children's novel by Nina Bawden
, set during the Second World War and following two evacuees
, Carrie and her younger brother Nick. It is a common fixture in secondary schools.
, and her housekeeper, Hepzibah Green. The housekeeper tells the children about a curse
on the family which concerns a skull kept in the library
. According to the tale, the curse
would activate if the skull is removed from the house.
Later their mother comes to visit them but nothing is said about Mr Evans. Carrie's birthday arrives and Albert kisses her on the cheek for a present and she is overjoyed by this (I think that Carrie Likes Albert Love in the air in 1939). Mrs Gotobed passes away after this. The children believe Mr Evans has stolen her will so that Hepzibah and Mr Johnny are out of his deceased sister's house. Auntie Lou meets an American soldier called Major Cass Harper and becomes very friendly with him (keeping this secret from her brother whom would not approve). Mrs Willow sends a letter saying to come home and so they try to reveal the truth of the stolen will. Auntie Lou departs to marry Major Harper at this point.
Thirty years later, Carrie's children return and discover that Hepzibah, Mr Johnny and Albert are still alive and that the fire was from Mr Johnny playing with matches. Mr Evans is revealed dead after a few weeks of grief and loneliness of his sister's departure to America.
, which is awarded annually to a book originally published twenty years previously without having received a major award at that time (in this case, 1973).
Carrie's War has been adapted twice for television by the BBC
, first in 1974, and then again in 2004. The original 1974 version starred Juliet Waley as Carrie and Rosalie Crutchley
as Hepzibah. The more recent 2004 BBC version (broadcast in America on PBS - Masterpiece Theatre
in 2006) starred Keeley Fawcett as Carrie, Alun Armstrong
as Mr. Evans, Geraldine McEwan
as Mrs. Gotobed, Eddie Cooper
as Albert Sandwich and Pauline Quirke
as Hepzibah. The latter version is available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK
.
A stage adaptation by Novel Theatre ran at Sadler's Wells, 2006 – 2007 and completed a successful West End run starring Prunella Scales
June – September 2009. The production embarked on a major UK tour in autumn 2010 starring Brigit Forsyth and Hannah Waterman.
Nina Bawden
Nina Bawden CBE is a popular British novelist and children's writer. Her mother was a teacher and her father a marine.-Life:...
, set during the Second World War and following two evacuees
Emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...
, Carrie and her younger brother Nick. It is a common fixture in secondary schools.
Plot
Carrie Willow and her brother Nick are evacuated to Wales during the Second World War. They stay with the bullying Mr. Evans, and his gentle but weak sister, whom they call "Auntie Lou." The children befriend another young evacuee, Albert Sandwich, who is staying with Mr. Evans' other sister, the dying Mrs Gotobed. They also befriend Mrs. Gotobed's husband's relative, Mr. Johnny Gotobed who has cerebral palsyCerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, and her housekeeper, Hepzibah Green. The housekeeper tells the children about a curse
Curse
A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
on the family which concerns a skull kept in the library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
. According to the tale, the curse
Curse
A curse is any expressed wish that some form of adversity or misfortune will befall or attach to some other entity—one or more persons, a place, or an object...
would activate if the skull is removed from the house.
Later their mother comes to visit them but nothing is said about Mr Evans. Carrie's birthday arrives and Albert kisses her on the cheek for a present and she is overjoyed by this (I think that Carrie Likes Albert Love in the air in 1939). Mrs Gotobed passes away after this. The children believe Mr Evans has stolen her will so that Hepzibah and Mr Johnny are out of his deceased sister's house. Auntie Lou meets an American soldier called Major Cass Harper and becomes very friendly with him (keeping this secret from her brother whom would not approve). Mrs Willow sends a letter saying to come home and so they try to reveal the truth of the stolen will. Auntie Lou departs to marry Major Harper at this point.
Thirty years later, Carrie's children return and discover that Hepzibah, Mr Johnny and Albert are still alive and that the fire was from Mr Johnny playing with matches. Mr Evans is revealed dead after a few weeks of grief and loneliness of his sister's departure to America.
Awards and nominations
In 1993, Carrie's War won the Phoenix AwardPhoenix Award
The Phoenix Award is awarded annually to a book originally published in English twenty years previously which did not receive a major award at the time of its publication....
, which is awarded annually to a book originally published twenty years previously without having received a major award at that time (in this case, 1973).
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, first in 1974, and then again in 2004. The original 1974 version starred Juliet Waley as Carrie and Rosalie Crutchley
Rosalie Crutchley
Rosalie Crutchley was an English actress. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music, Crutchley was best known for her television performances, but had a long and successful career in the theatre and in films, making her stage debut at least as early as 1932 and her screen debut in 1947...
as Hepzibah. The more recent 2004 BBC version (broadcast in America on PBS - Masterpiece Theatre
Masterpiece Theatre
Masterpiece is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service on January 10, 1971, making it America's longest-running weekly prime time drama series. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions...
in 2006) starred Keeley Fawcett as Carrie, Alun Armstrong
Alun Armstrong (actor)
Alun Armstrong is a prolific British character actor. Armstrong grew up in County Durham in North East England. He first became interested in acting through Shakespeare productions at his grammar school. Since his career began in the early 1970s, he has played, in his words, "the full spectrum of...
as Mr. Evans, Geraldine McEwan
Geraldine McEwan
Geraldine McEwan is an English actor with a diverse history in theatre, film, and television. From 2004 to 2009 she appeared as Miss Marple, the Agatha Christie sleuth, for the series Marple.-Background:...
as Mrs. Gotobed, Eddie Cooper
Eddie Cooper
Eddie Cooper is a British actor, best known for his portrayal of the main character Charlie Spinner in the CBBC television series Oscar Charlie opposite David Swift. Also notable are roles as Albert Sandwich in the BBC film drama Carrie's War, Prince Harry in the television film about Prince...
as Albert Sandwich and Pauline Quirke
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Perpetua Quirke is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon in the comedy series Birds of a Feather, alongside her lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson...
as Hepzibah. The latter version is available on DVD, distributed by Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
.
A stage adaptation by Novel Theatre ran at Sadler's Wells, 2006 – 2007 and completed a successful West End run starring Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales
Prunella Scales CBE is an English actress, known for her role as Basil Fawlty's long-suffering wife in the British comedy Fawlty Towers and her award-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in the British film A Question of Attribution.-Career:Throughout her long career, Scales has usually been cast...
June – September 2009. The production embarked on a major UK tour in autumn 2010 starring Brigit Forsyth and Hannah Waterman.
External links
(1974 adaptation) (2004 adaptation)- Carrie's War at the BFI (1974 adaptation)