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Thread ID: 64286 2005-12-09 21:56:00 Literature question (Books!) Thomas01 (317) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
411535 2005-12-09 21:56:00 Sometime in the early 1940s I read a story about a set of wooden man size figures that took over LONDON. Everybody vanished. Except one family - who lost most of their dog (the tail stayed). It was set in about the late 1920s and for years I kept my kids interested by recounting the thing and embelishing it. Now my girl is a grandmother herself, and wants to read the original or have me write it out on.
I would like to try and trace the thing and if possible get a copy but I really have no idea where to start to look.
Any ideas please?
Tom
Thomas01 (317)
411536 2005-12-12 00:56:00 I thought I'd read every book ever written, but that's one I missed. Damn. :D :cool: :thumbs: Graham L (2)
411537 2005-12-12 05:02:00 Like Graham, I missed that one too.

So if you're serious, how about some more info? It might strike a chord with someone.

Was it supposed to be a kids' story or an adult thriller?
Short story or a full book?
(Early 40s had kids magazines/comics with serials. Was it in parts?)
Illustrations - or were the wooden figures left to your imagination?

I have technicolour memories of favourite books from childhood, so even if I can't recall details like title & author's name, the colour/size/shape of the book itself remains.
That can sometimes be a help.
Laura (43)
411538 2005-12-12 06:14:00 if you can remember any quotes google for it. Dannz (1668)
411539 2005-12-12 07:12:00 The Admiral's Caravan by Charles E Carryl ? Peterj116 (6762)
411540 2005-12-13 01:55:00 To add to the information:-
It was definately a childrens book - aimed at 8 to 14 year olds I would think. It came in a very thick book featuring umpteen stories and I believe the stories were continued further on in the book - so it may have been reprinted from some weekly/monthly magazines. It was pretty old even when I read it in early 1940s. There were illustrations - showing the man size wooden figures - and a view of the hero family placing a kennel over the only part of their dog still visible - a tail in mid air.
Mind you it was over 60 years ago so my memory may be defective.
There was if I remember correctly also some adventure stories about a mid atlantic floating aerodrome for aircraft to stop at on their way over the Atlantic.
In those days non stop commercial flight was only a dream.
It would really be amazing to be able to trace it now but I live in hope.
Tom
Thomas01 (317)
411541 2005-12-13 02:13:00 So that would probably be one of the annuals. There's probably a society of collectors. :D Graham L (2)
411542 2005-12-13 03:33:00 It could possibly be a "Chums" annual of which I have about 30 going back to 1898.
Chums were made up from weekly comics , hard bound in red, and from about 1910 had a cowboy on the front and a footballer on the spine.

If that rings a bell, I'll have a search.
Terry Porritt (14)
411543 2005-12-13 03:45:00 Peter's suggestion doesn't look very likely, from a brief description of the "plot" Google found for me.

Try a search with "children's annuals" in the Google Groups area, Tom. Questions in one or two of the newsgroups that will find might get better results. Many of the people here don't read much, judging by their spelling. :groan: Probably most of those who do haven't seen many books from before 1945. :thumbs:
Graham L (2)
411544 2005-12-13 04:22:00 You could spend hours and hours on the site below, Tom, searching the contents for a wide selection of childrens annuals and magazines going back into the 1800s.

contento.best.vwh.net
Terry Porritt (14)
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