Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood

George MacDonald (1824 - 1905)

George MacDonald is mainly known for his fantasy works and fairy tales such as At the Back of the North Wind and the Princess and the Goblin. However, during his life he was more famous for many more realistic novels. . . among them the somewhat autobiographical Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood.

This story of a young motherless boy growing up with his brothers in a Scottish manse is full of delightful characters. There is Kirsty, an enchanting Highland storyteller, Turkey, the intrepid cowherd, the evil Kelpie, and the lovely Elsie Duff. Throughout the twists and turns of his escapades and adventures Ranald learns from his father the important lessons of courage and integrity.

When Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood came out in 1871 the New York Independent praised it as "full of sweetness, full of boy-life and true goodness". Perhaps, but it is also a good story, from the master of storytellers. (Summary by Bookworm)

Genre(s): Children's Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Introductory Bookworm
00:03:38
Play 02 The Glimmer of Twilight Matthew Walton
00:10:05
Play 03 My Father Matthew Walton
00:08:30
Play 04 Kirsty Bookworm
00:07:56
Play 05 I Begin Life Ophelia Darcy
00:09:23
Play 06 No Father Cyril Law, Jr.
00:13:54
Play 07 Mrs. Mitchell is Defeated Matthew Walton
00:09:31
Play 08 A New Schoolmistress Heather Lambert
00:06:12
Play 09 We Learn Other Things Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
00:17:40
Play 10 Sir Worm Wymble Ophelia Darcy
00:17:12
Play 11 The Kelpie Ophelia Darcy
00:05:59
Play 12 Another Kelpie Kevin McAsh
00:12:51
Play 13 Wandering Willie Kirsten Ferreri
00:20:50
Play 14 Elsie Duff Kirsten Ferreri
00:12:04
Play 15 A New Companion Kevin McAsh
00:08:05
Play 16 I Go Down Hill Kevin McAsh
00:13:15
Play 17 The Trouble Grows Kevin McAsh
00:06:05
Play 18 Light Out of Darkness Kevin McAsh
00:11:08
Play 19 Forgiveness Christine Blachford
00:10:01
Play 20 I Have a Fall and a Dream Cindy Steib
00:18:27
Play 21 The Bees' Nest Cindy Steib
00:19:28
Play 22 Vain Intercession Konrad Planck
00:08:00
Play 23 Knight-Errantry Cindy Steib
00:12:57
Play 24 Failure Arctura
00:13:42
Play 25 Turkey Plots Christine Blachford
00:08:23
Play 26 Old John Jamieson Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
00:16:07
Play 27 Turkey's trick Cindy Steib
00:06:50
Play 28 I Scheme Too Cindy Steib
00:09:22
Play 29 A Double Exposure Cindy Steib
00:10:59
Play 30 Tribulation Cindy Steib
00:26:31
Play 31 A Winter's Ride Christine Blachford
00:10:26
Play 32 The Peat-Stack Kevin McAsh
00:27:58
Play 33 A Solitary Chapter Larry Gilman
00:11:30
Play 34 An Evening Visit Larry Gilman
00:08:50
Play 35 I Break In My Story Sibella Denton
00:04:27
Play 36 I Learn That I Am Not A Man Bookworm
00:06:32