The Richleighs of Tantamount
Encyclopedia
The Richleighs of Tantamount is a children’s historical novel written by British author Barbara Willard
. It was originally published in the United Kingdom in 1966 by the publishers, Constable, before being published in the United States
by Harcourt, Brace & World in June 1967. C. Walter Hodges
drew the line illustrations and painted the cover portrait
for the original edition.
mansion
in Victorian
society (circa the 1870s), along with their wealthy parents. These four children have been longing all their lives for their maiden visit to Tantamount, a castle
on the Cornish
coast, built by their great-great-great-grandfather. From time to time, the children wonder about its mysterious past as they look at the gigantic painting of the castle that dominates a wall in their drawing room.
Their lives are changed one fateful, unforgettable July when their father contracts a serious illness. The children are sent to stay at the castle while their parents go on a sea voyage to repair his health. Only when the children begin to explore do they realize that despite being built and furnished in magnificent style, the castle is suffering from decades of neglect. The tutor and governess are shocked by the condition of the place and leave abruptly. Soon the recently-engaged servants do the same, but the children decide to stay on alone.
Regarding themselves as castaways, they enjoy their freedom despite the hardships. They make friends with two local children, Nancy and Dick, and are worried when they disappear. They begin to suspect that the castle is being used for smuggling
and even wrecking. Tantamount is destroyed by fire, but when the parents arrive at last they are relieved to find their children have survived.
Barbara Willard
Barbara Mary Willard, a British historical/children's author, was born in Brighton, Sussex in 1909, the daughter of the Shakespearean actor Edmund Willard and the great-niece of Victorian era actor Edward Smith Willard....
. It was originally published in the United Kingdom in 1966 by the publishers, Constable, before being published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Harcourt, Brace & World in June 1967. 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....
drew the line illustrations and painted the cover portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
for the original edition.
Chapters
- To Be a Richleigh...
- Toy Sunday
- The Travellers
- The Arrival
- Tantamount
- Strangers on the Shore
- The Castaways
- Nancy and Dick
- The Wonderful Day
- Wreckers' Castle
- The Grand Idea
- Pursuit
- Home from the Sea
- An End...
- ...or a Beginning
Synopsis
The book tells the story of four young siblings—Edwin, Angeline, Sebastian and Maud—who live together in a LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
society (circa the 1870s), along with their wealthy parents. These four children have been longing all their lives for their maiden visit to Tantamount, a castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
on the Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
coast, built by their great-great-great-grandfather. From time to time, the children wonder about its mysterious past as they look at the gigantic painting of the castle that dominates a wall in their drawing room.
Their lives are changed one fateful, unforgettable July when their father contracts a serious illness. The children are sent to stay at the castle while their parents go on a sea voyage to repair his health. Only when the children begin to explore do they realize that despite being built and furnished in magnificent style, the castle is suffering from decades of neglect. The tutor and governess are shocked by the condition of the place and leave abruptly. Soon the recently-engaged servants do the same, but the children decide to stay on alone.
Regarding themselves as castaways, they enjoy their freedom despite the hardships. They make friends with two local children, Nancy and Dick, and are worried when they disappear. They begin to suspect that the castle is being used for smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
and even wrecking. Tantamount is destroyed by fire, but when the parents arrive at last they are relieved to find their children have survived.
The Richleigh four
- Edwin Richleigh, 16: the eldest and most educated of the siblings, and heir to the family’s fortune.
- Angeline Richleigh, 14: rebellious but innocent in appearance.
- Sebastian Richleigh, 11: the big question-asker who always remembers the answers better than his older brother.
- Maud Richleigh, 8: treated by everyone except older Angeline as the baby of the family; she is the prettiest among the four.
Their parents
- Major Sir Rautboy Richleigh , EnglandEnglandEngland 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...
’s third richest man. - Lady Daisy, his wife, heiressBeneficiaryA beneficiary in the broadest sense is a natural person or other legal entity who receives money or other benefits from a benefactor. For example: The beneficiary of a life insurance policy, is the person who receives the payment of the amount of insurance after the death of the insured...
and earlEarlAn earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
’s daughter.
Inside the London house
- Mr. Gaunt, Edwin’s EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
tutorTutorA tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
. - Miss Venus, the governessGovernessA governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
; teacher of Angeline, Sebastian and Maud. - Old Nurse and New Nurse, the caretakers responsible for the house’s upkeep. They both make their first appearances when the book begins.
- Lance, the pageboyPageboyThe pageboy is a hairstyle named after what was believed to be the haircut of an English page boy. It has straight hair hanging to below the ear, where it usually turns under. Often there is a fringe in the front. This style was popular in the 1950s and 1960s.-Design and style:The pageboy...
, “ready to answer the door if need be”. He also appears at the start of the book.
Mentioned by the family
- Lady Augusta, Queen VictoriaVictoria of the United KingdomVictoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
’s cousin, who lives across the square near which the Richleighs live. - Uncle Charles, Sir Rautboy’s stern, serious, long-faced brother, whom the four children all dread.
At Tantamount and vicinity
- Mr. Devine, an agent from ExeterExeterExeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
who takes to the castle’s upkeep and reports on its conditions annually. - Mrs. Pengelly, a visitor from England’s southern region who assists in helping the four children and company upon their arrival at Tantamount.
- (Mr.) Pengelly, her husband.
- Betsy Pengelly, the Pengellys' daughter.
- Nancy Treloar and her brother Dick Treloar, two local children whom the Richleighs discover during the first day of their visit.
- Kate Treloar, their aunt, who lives miles away from Tantamount at a place called Penwellow.
- Mr. John Pascoe, a kind man who owns a farm called Treligger.
- Mrs. Pascoe, his sour and unjust wife.
- William Treloar, Nancy and Dick's father.
Customs
- Wif, short for What would you do if—?, the Richleigh children’s favourite game.
- Toy Sunday, a toyToyA toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
-distribution spree occurring twice yearly; only one of them, the last Sunday in May, is mentioned in the book. - Councils of Tantamount: Edwin holds meetings for three of them at various times during the siblings’ visit to the ruined castle.