The Railway Children is the classic children's story by E. Nesbit. When
Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their
mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in
a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby
railway station, and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station
Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field
to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their
love to Father. Little do they know that the kindly old gentleman
passenger who waves back holds the key to their father's disappearance.
One of the best-loved classics of all time, with a wonderful
introduction by Jacqueline Wilson. Edith Nesbit was a mischievous child
who grew up into an unconventional adult. With her husband, Hubert
Bland, she was one of the founder members of the socialist Fabian
Society; their household became a centre of the socialist and literary
circles of the times. E. Nesbit turned late to children's writing. Her
first children's book, The Treasure Seekers, was published in 1899 to
great acclaim. Other books featuring the Bastable children followed, and
a series of magical fantasy books, including Five Children and It also
became very popular. The Railway Children was first published monthly in
the London Magazine in 1905, and published as a book in 1906, which has
been in print ever since. Other children's books by E Nesbit: The Story
of the Treasure Seekers; The Wouldbegoods; The New Treasure Seekers;
Complete History of the Bastable Family; Five Children and It; The
Phoenix and the Carpet; The Story of the Amulet; The House of Arden;
Harding's Luck; The Railway Children; The Enchanted Castle; The Magic
City; The Wonderful Garden; Wet Magic; Five of Us and Madeline
