The Little White Horse
Encyclopedia
The Little White Horse is a children's fantasy novel by Elizabeth Goudge
which won the 1946 Carnegie Medal
for children's literature. The original edition was illustrated by C. Walter Hodges
. It has been adapted for film and television.
after the death of her Father, accompanied by her governess Miss Heliotrope and dog Wiggins. There she finds herself in a world out of time. Maria meets her cousin, Sir Benjamin Merryweather, one of the "sun" Merryweathers, and finds that she loves him right away - the "sun" and the "moon" Merryweathers always take to each other - for a while. Maria discovers that there is an ancient story around founding of the estate that will have a great effect on her future....
Although she is aided by a stable of wonderful characters and magical beasts (including the unicorn
of the title), it is only by self-sacrifice and perseverance that she will be able to succeed in bringing wholeness back to Moonacre. And of course, with a pinch of magic, Maria is able to save Moonacre, right the wrongs, reunite lost loves and finally bring peace to the valley, and there is the happiest of happy endings.
In 2008, the book was adapted into a film called The Secret of Moonacre
, written by Lucy Shuttleworth and Graham Alborough and directed by Gabor Csupo
. Starring Dakota Blue Richards
as Maria, the movie was mostly shot in Hungary and released in February 2009.
author JK Rowling mentioned that The Little White Horse was among her favourite books while in school.
Elizabeth Goudge
Elizabeth de Beauchamp Goudge was an English author of novels, short stories and children's books as Elizabeth Goudge...
which won the 1946 Carnegie Medal
Carnegie Medal
The Carnegie Medal is a literary award established in 1936 in honour of Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and given annually to an outstanding book for children and young adults. It is awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals...
for children's literature. The original edition was illustrated by C. Walter Hodges
C. Walter Hodges
Cyril Walter Hodges, known as C. Walter Hodges , was an English illustrator and author. Born in Beckenham, Kent and educated at Dulwich College and Goldsmiths' College, he spent most of his career as a freelance illustrator....
. It has been adapted for film and television.
Plot summary
It is 1842 and Maria Merryweather, a thirteen-year-old orphan, is on a journey to the mysterious Moonacre Manor somewhere in the west of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
after the death of her Father, accompanied by her governess Miss Heliotrope and dog Wiggins. There she finds herself in a world out of time. Maria meets her cousin, Sir Benjamin Merryweather, one of the "sun" Merryweathers, and finds that she loves him right away - the "sun" and the "moon" Merryweathers always take to each other - for a while. Maria discovers that there is an ancient story around founding of the estate that will have a great effect on her future....
Although she is aided by a stable of wonderful characters and magical beasts (including the unicorn
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
of the title), it is only by self-sacrifice and perseverance that she will be able to succeed in bringing wholeness back to Moonacre. And of course, with a pinch of magic, Maria is able to save Moonacre, right the wrongs, reunite lost loves and finally bring peace to the valley, and there is the happiest of happy endings.
Characters
- Maria Merryweather - A smart, quick-thinking thirteen-year-old orphan with red hair and freckles.
- Robin - The child of Loveday Minette. He is later married to Maria and they have 10 children.
- Loveday Minette - Robin's mother and Sir Benjamin's ex-fiancee. She is known in the book to have a passion for pink geraniums. When their argument broke out about the geraniums, she left Moonacre and went and got married in town to a lawyer.
- Sir Benjamin Merryweather - Maria's second cousin and guardian.
- Old Parson - The parson who helps Maria give Paradise Hill back to God. His real name is Louis de Fontenelle.
- Miss Heliotrope - Maria's governess. She eventually marries the parson, who was her childhood sweetheart. She is very tall, with forget-me-not blue eyes. She suffers from indigestion at the beginning.
- Marmaduke Scarlet - Sir Benjamin's cook and housekeeper. Also the owner of Zacharia the cat. He doesn't like feminine curiosity and sees his kitchen as a private domain. He is a wonderful chef though.
- Digweed - Sir Benjamin's coachman and gardener.
- Zachariah - Marmaduke's special cat. He helps out Maria and Robin. He writes messages in the ashes in the kitchen fireplace.
- Wrolf - a lion. He acts as Maria's special protector, called a dog by Sir Benjamin and others.
- Serena - A hare that Maria saved from the Men from the Dark Woods.
- Wiggins - Maria's greedy dog.
- Periwinkle - Maria's gray pony whose other name is joy-of-the-ground.
Adaptations
The 1994 television mini-series Moonacre was based on The Little White Horse.In 2008, the book was adapted into a film called The Secret of Moonacre
The Secret of Moonacre
The Secret of Moonacre is a film adaptation of the novel The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. The film, which started filming on 1 October 2007, was released in the UK February 2009 by Warner Bros. The film will be distributed to select theatres in the United States on August 12, 2010...
, written by Lucy Shuttleworth and Graham Alborough and directed by Gabor Csupo
Gábor Csupó
Gábor Csupó is a Hungarian-born animator, writer, film director and music producer. He is co-founder of the animation studio Klasky Csupo, which has produced shows like Rugrats, Duckman, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.-Career:...
. Starring Dakota Blue Richards
Dakota Blue Richards
Dakota Blue Richards is an English actress. Her debut was in the film The Golden Compass, as the lead character Lyra Belacqua....
as Maria, the movie was mostly shot in Hungary and released in February 2009.
Praises
Harry PotterHarry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
author JK Rowling mentioned that The Little White Horse was among her favourite books while in school.
Sources
- Official web site for the movie.
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396707/The Secret of Moonacre at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
] - Elizabeth Goudge Society page and reader forum
Edition
- 1st edition, London, University of London Press Ltd. [1946]; LCCN 47018596