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Book Review: The Cuckoo Tree
In The Cuckoo Tree, Dido Twite at long last returns to England! Her adventures on the voyage over were actually written post-Cuckoo Tree, so we are not going to be hearing anything here about how Dido helped the reincarnation of King Arthur regain his throne in New Cumbria (South America) or how she helped restore Dr. Talisman to her rightful place as heir of Aratu.
We do, however, hear that Dido and company fought in the China Tea Wars and captured a French frigate, neither of which were detailed in those earlier/later books came to be written. Joan Aiken, never change.
Anyway! Dido is back in England with Captain Hughes, who carries an urgent dispatch related to the upcoming coronation of King Richard IV, a.k.a. King Davie Jamie Charlie Neddie Geordie Harry Dick Tudor-Stuart, NO we will not be explaining which Tudor married which Stuart. Unfortunately, on the road back to London, their carriage overturns, leaving Captain Hughes wounded and forcing Dido to go for help.
The nearest source of aid proves to be Tegleaze Manor, an almost abandoned and generally gothic place in the hands of an eccentric old lady who has gambled away much of the family fortune. She has a cousin Wilfrid who has made a doll-size copy of Tegleaze Manor and a grandson Tobit who is obsessed with peashooters, but not as obsessed as Lady Tegleaze herself is with contagion. The moment she hears Captain Hughes is not well, she banishes Dido and the captain to Dogkennel Cottages (despite Dido’s remonstrances that carriage accidents are not catching), where Dido finds herself in company of a kindly blind shepherd and a not at all kindly witch…
This book also includes such Aiken favorites as lost heirs, girls dressed as boys, alcohol used as medicine (Dido is at one point revived by a porridge made of wine), and animals who thrive on the dubious diet of hot buttered buns and marmalade pie. The animal in question this time is an elephant, Rachel, who perhaps is not quite as amazing as the pink whale in Nightbirds on Nantucket, but listen, who could compete with the pink whale/whaling captain love story?
Also Dido is reunited with her father, who tells her that most of her family is dead, which Dido accepts with equanimity, as they were never good to her and anyway she’s got adventures to be getting on with. He also leaves her tied to a post by the baddies. Still the worst father. Fascinated how he and Dido will rub along together in the next book, Dido and Pa.
More important, who will Dido put on a throne in the next book? Always a kingmaker, never a king. Will Dido someday manage to crown herself?
We do, however, hear that Dido and company fought in the China Tea Wars and captured a French frigate, neither of which were detailed in those earlier/later books came to be written. Joan Aiken, never change.
Anyway! Dido is back in England with Captain Hughes, who carries an urgent dispatch related to the upcoming coronation of King Richard IV, a.k.a. King Davie Jamie Charlie Neddie Geordie Harry Dick Tudor-Stuart, NO we will not be explaining which Tudor married which Stuart. Unfortunately, on the road back to London, their carriage overturns, leaving Captain Hughes wounded and forcing Dido to go for help.
The nearest source of aid proves to be Tegleaze Manor, an almost abandoned and generally gothic place in the hands of an eccentric old lady who has gambled away much of the family fortune. She has a cousin Wilfrid who has made a doll-size copy of Tegleaze Manor and a grandson Tobit who is obsessed with peashooters, but not as obsessed as Lady Tegleaze herself is with contagion. The moment she hears Captain Hughes is not well, she banishes Dido and the captain to Dogkennel Cottages (despite Dido’s remonstrances that carriage accidents are not catching), where Dido finds herself in company of a kindly blind shepherd and a not at all kindly witch…
This book also includes such Aiken favorites as lost heirs, girls dressed as boys, alcohol used as medicine (Dido is at one point revived by a porridge made of wine), and animals who thrive on the dubious diet of hot buttered buns and marmalade pie. The animal in question this time is an elephant, Rachel, who perhaps is not quite as amazing as the pink whale in Nightbirds on Nantucket, but listen, who could compete with the pink whale/whaling captain love story?
Also Dido is reunited with her father, who tells her that most of her family is dead, which Dido accepts with equanimity, as they were never good to her and anyway she’s got adventures to be getting on with. He also leaves her tied to a post by the baddies. Still the worst father. Fascinated how he and Dido will rub along together in the next book, Dido and Pa.
More important, who will Dido put on a throne in the next book? Always a kingmaker, never a king. Will Dido someday manage to crown herself?