Published: 2006
This lavishly illustrated book is a must for all those who are interested in the books
of Elsie Oxenham.
An in-depth study by two noted researchers in this field, the book deals with the major themes occurring throughout EJO's books from Goblin Island in 1907 to Two Queens at the Abbey in 1959. Sheila Ray and Stella Waring also have a close look at the real life locations that EJO used for the fictional settings of her books.
Island to Abbey was first privately sold as a photocopied typescript in the 1980s, and then expanded in the 1990s. The text of this new edition has been completely revised and updated, and we have added illustrations as follows:
- Numerous black-and-white photographs of the locations
- Black and white maps of the locations
- A full-colour pictorial map of the locations (as the frontispiece)
- Numerous black-and-white reproductions of illustrations from the books
- 16 full-colour illustrations of very rare dustwrappers (4 pages' worth)
- A full-colour illustration from an annual story (verso of frontispiece)
Reviews
- Click here for a longer review.
- I am absolutely thrilled I am with Island To Abbey. I have only quite recently discovered the Abbey books and I really wanted something which would give me information on all the books EJO wrote. So when the book arrived and I opened it to find such a wealth of information, to say I was pleased is an understatement!
- Such detailed information about each story, maps of the various locations, wonderful pictures of dustwrappers (some of them in colour!) - well, the book has hardly left my hands from the moment it arrived. I have literally carried it around with me, dipping into it at opportune moments, and reading it each night in bed. A fabulous book! I bet this one will sell out quickly and I'm just glad I have it.
- Kim Downing
- Just a quick note to say I picked up my copy of Island to Abbey this morning and managed to skim through it just now at lunch. I think it looks absolutely wonderful - very well written and beautifully produced. I am very happy with the size too. Best of all, it's Friday and very cold and grey in Sydney so I am now looking forward to a lovely evening reading it from cover to cover. Many thanks.
- Margaret White
- Island to Abbey is a treasure. I wish I could have access to this all those years ago. I really enjoyed re-discovering how all the various stories and books, including those I don't have, fit together. It is quite a relief to have an overall précis of the Abbey girls story.
- Alison Bunting
- I want to say how much I've enjoyed reading Island to Abbey! Yes, I started it as soon as it arrived and have just finished it - what a fabulous book. So much information and reading in it - it really is a comprehensive study of EJO and her books - wonderful.
- Anne Maclean
- I have to tell you that Island to Abbey is absolutely marvellous. It is an absolute dream to read - so interesting and just flows. It has been beautifully produced too.
- Lucie Penry
- I just got my copy of Island to Abbey and it is just beautiful. I have been dipping into it at work and just love it.
- Sam Rowan
- I congratulate you on Island to Abbey which I got on Tuesday and think is fantastic!
- Sally Phillips
- You are right to be proud of "I to A". A beautiful book, well researched by the two authors whose love for EJO comes across on every page! I couldn't put it down! I particularly enjoyed reading about the books I have not read.
- Linda Gormley
- I was delighted with my copy of From Island to Abbey. The illustrations are lovely and the synopses of the books useful when you don't own the complete works of EJO.
- Jenifer Blair
- Thank-you for Island to Abbey which also arrived this week. What a fantastic book! I've been wanting a book like this for years! It's wonderful to be able to read up on all the EJO books that I haven't been able to find and the illustrations are gorgeous. I'm also thrilled to discover that many of the locations in the books actually exist - especially the setting for Adventure for Two.
- Vicki Langdon