The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Have you ever put down an everyday object such as a safety pin then later, despite searching high and low, been unable to find it again? You have? Me too! Is it possible that you have a family of Borrowers living in your house? I'm sure I must have.
The Borrower stories by Mary Norton were first published in 1952 and have been popular ever since. The first book in the series, which won the Carnegie Medal in 1952, is called simply The Borrowers. This book introduces us to the Clock family, made up of father Pod, mother Homily and their daughter Arrietty. They live under the floorboards in a manor house and they enter their home through a gap in the floorboards under the clock in the hall, hence the name - Clock family. (Incidentally, the manor house was based on a house near Leighton Buzzard where Mary Norton lived for part of her childhood.) The family survive by 'borrowing' everyday objects to use as furniture (boxes), utensils (half a pair of nail scissors) and tools (a hatpin). Food and crumbs left by the humans provide their nourishment. Despite many warnings about talking to humans Arrietty speaks to a young boy sent to convalesce with his great aunt and the repercussions force the family to flee from the manor house.
The second book in the series Borrowers Afield tells of their lives after leaving the manor house. The family leave in such a rush that they are unable to take many of their possessions. After wandering around the neighbouring countryside looking for their relatives, the Hendrearys, (who they believe lives in a badger's set), they come across an object that is to become their new home - an old boot! After a great deal of effort they reposition the boot by the side of a stream to provide water but high enough up to avoid any flooding! Initially the family have to survive on nuts and berries from the hedgerows, a far cry from the diet of human foods they had been used to in their old home. They meet a 'wild free-living' Borrower named Spiller who introduces meat into their diet in the form of mouse and minnow. They have just begun to get used to their new lifestyle when suddenly everything changes again - Mild Eye the gypsy reclaims his lost boot and after a terrifying near death experience in the gypsy's caravan their lives are saved by a young human who takes them home and reunites them with their long lost relatives.
After a while circumstances force the family to move on yet again and Borrowers Afloat tells the story of their move from the cottage to their new home in Little Fordham - a model village lovingly crafted by Mr. Pott, a retired railway man. The village is open to the public during the day so this hopefully will provide them with sufficient borrowings to survive. The way out of the cottage is via the drain in the scullery which, as you can imagine, was not a very pleasant experience! Spiller leads the way and after an eventful journey they arrive at a nearby stream. Whilst waiting for Spiller to transport them downstream in his 'boat', (or cutlery drawer to you and me), they live in a rusty kettle situated on the bank. All is well until flood water dislodges the kettle and away they float, eventually getting caught up on a pile of sticks midstream. They wait here for Spiller to arrive but unfortunately they are spotted by a poacher - their old enemy Mild Eye! Another close encounter with the gypsy nearly ends their dreams but luckily Spiller emerges from the shadows to rescue them and their journey to Little Fordham continues.
Borrowers Aloft finds our family happily settled in their own place in Little Fordham. Sadly it was not to last. They are kidnapped by a jealous couple from a rival tourist attraction and imprisoned in a shoebox in the attic. Realising they were destined to be put on display to the public they immediately begin to plan their escape. Whilst reading, Arriety finds an article which might provide their only possible means of escape and so they begin making, testing and modifying an air balloon! Any sound of their captors approaching to feed them and they immediately return to the shoebox until the coast is clear to start again. Eventually the big day comes and steadily the balloon rises through the attic window and floats towards their old home in Little Fordham.
If you would like to read about another world living alongside our own have a look at our current stock of Borrowers books and other books by Mary Norton.
Now where did I put that safety pin, it must be here somewhere, or has it been Borrowed?
Contributed by Lorna Evans.
(Published 4th Dec 2014)
