The Ghost of Thomas Kempe
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| Author | Penelope Lively |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Heinemann |
| Released | 26 March 1973 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 160 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0434948942 (first edition, hardback) |
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe is a novel for children by Penelope Lively published in 1973. The novel won the Carnegie Medal in 1973.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
The story concerns a young boy James Harrison and his family who move to a cottage in a small Oxfordshire village. They are beset by a series of small domestic disasters and the family assume that James is causing the problems. However James discovers that he is being haunted by the ghost of a 17th Century sorcerer and no one will believe him.The story is a thriller for young children so it keeps them reading on to find more terrible happenings going on.
[edit] Major themes
The story has some other themes about the life of an ex-inhabitant of the cottage in the 19th century and the history of surrounding countryside. An interest in history and local change is a running theme in the work of Penelope Lively, and this can be seen in many of her other books.
[edit] Literary significance & criticism
The prose of the novel is very enjoyable with a lot of humour. It is still a popular children's novel.[citation needed]
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
In 1978, a film was made based on the novel, which aired on The ABC Weekend Special, a showcase for a variety of different films aimed at children. The film was re-broadcast many times over the years, and has had several releases on home video.
