Hi there

[ex-jo-blogs.livejournal.com]

Just a quick post to introduce myself. I discovered the Antonia Forest books many years ago and loved them but never met anyone, other than myself and my sister, who'd even heard of them. A few years ago, a very kind person from the Girlsown list lent me all the ones I didn't own, or had managed to lose over the years. They also supplied me with a photocopy of The Players Boy, which up until then, I had never managed to read. If that person is a member of this community, (sorry can't remember her name) - thank you again!

I then tracked down my own copies of the missing books, so I was finally in possession of a full set. It's great to find a group of fans, I could never understand why her books were such a minority interest, they are so beautifully written. I can't nominate a favourite as I love them all equally, for different reasons.

I do have a very soft spot for The Player and the Rebels, as it was one of only two I managed to keep hold of, in the barren years when I'd lost most of the others. My hardback would doubtless be worth more if I hadn't read it so many times. The others was The Thuggery Affair, which I also love, although I think I read somewhere that it's not as well-regarded as the others. I love it for the absence of Nicola, for the long sequences from other characters points of view, particularly Lawrie. I love Nicola, especially in The Cricket Term and Run Away Home but it's interesting to have one Marlow book without her. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough, looking forward to being here *waves*

(no subject)

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

Two more chapters available to read here.

Searching for Shakespeare

[widgetfox.livejournal.com]

Forest people in and around London might be interested in the Searching for Shakespeare exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, which I went to see this morning. As well as Will himself, there is lots on the theatre of the time, its culture, the patrons and the actors. There's also a distinguished-looking portrait of Richard Burbage (and a portrait of Christopher Marlowe that looks rather like Johnny Depp). I enjoyed it a lot and found it evocative of the Players books.

Marlows quiz

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

A while ago a wrote an online quiz based on the Marlow books which you can find here.  It's not that hard but I hope it's fun!