The Magic World (1909) is a collection of twelve children's fantasy
stories by English writer Edith Nesbit. Using elements of magic and
mystery familiar to readers of her beloved Bastable and Psammead
Trilogies, Nesbit crafts tales of wonder and adventure for children and
adults alike.
In "The Cat-hood of Maurice," a young boy learns firsthand the
consequences of mistreating the family cat. One day, Maurice attaches an
empty sardine can to Lord Hugh's tail, terrifying and traumatizing the
poor cat. When his father gets home, Maurice is told that he will be
spending the next week at Dr. Strongitharm's school for wayward boys. At
the last moment, Maurice discovers Lord Hugh in his room, who reveals to
the boy a magic word that will turn him into a cat. In "Accidental
Magic," a boy named Quentin is sent to school in Salisbury. Immensely
interested in archaeology and history, Quentin is excited to learn that
he will be able to visit Stonehenge while at school. After getting in a
fight with a bully, Quentin runs away in fear of expulsion and escapes
through the fields toward Stonehenge. There, he searches for the fabled
altar stone, where, exhausted and scared, he falls asleep. When he wakes
up, he finds he has been transported to the lost world of Atlantis,
where the people call him the "Chosen of the Gods," but fail to reveal
what it is he is chosen for.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript,
this edition of Edith Nesbit's The Magic World is a classic of English
children's literature reimagined for modern readers.