I’ve known Puck of Pook's Hill since childhood, but encountered this sequel much later. Both books use the same device: two children are introduced by Puck’s simple magic to a variety of people lifted out of many different periods of English history; and they tell their tales. It’s a way of bringing

English history with a tiny bit of dark

Puck of Pook's Hill and its sequel Rewards and Fairies are, in my opinion, among the very best of Rudyard Kipling's books, and that is saying a great deal. They are Kipling's presentation for children of the early history of England. Rewards and Fairies begins

Originally published on my blog here in August 2001.

While Rewards and Fairies is a sequel to Puck of Pook's Hill, it is probably much better known as the original home of Kipling's most famous poem, If -. Myself, I don't like the poem very much - it's too much the sort of "uplifting" thing children

Borrow trouble for yourself if that’s your nature, but don’t lend it to your neighbours.

This is another collection of stories about the children Una and Dan and their semi-adventures with Puck. Most of the stories involve Puck bringing some historical—or even prehistorical—figure to tell them about

For my full, non-spoiler review: https://christianlovingbooks.blogspot...more

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to h