Frederick Marryat

Children of the New Forest

The Children of the New Forest (1847) is a novel by Frederick Marryat. Although Marryat is more widely known for novels inspired by his experience as a captain in the Royal Navy, The Children of the New Forest is a historical children’s novel set in the aftermath of the English Civil War. Bringing his readers into the world of danger and political intrigue that was England in the 17th century, Marryat earns his place as one of the leading adventure writers of his time. “It was in the month of November in this year that King Charles, accompanied by Sir John Berkely, Ashburnham, and Legg, made his escape from Hampton Court, and rode as fast as the horses could carry them toward that part of Hampshire which led to the New Forest.” At the end of the English Civil War, Parliamentarian forces pursued King Charles and his dwindling allies into the ancient woods of the New Forest. Searching the scattered homes of the forest, they leave a wake of destruction in their path. Having already lost their father, a Royalist, in the Battle of Naseby, orphans Edward, Humphrey, Alice, and Edith are targeted by a group of Roundhead soldiers. Rescued from their burning home by Jacob Armitage, a local verderer, the children learn to survive using techniques passed down by generations of New Forest dwellers. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Frederick Marryat’s The Children of the New Forest is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.