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Rating: 
Summary: Bronte toy soldiers make a fantasy masterpiece
Review: Pauline Clarke took the known history of the Bronte children, and created a powerful fantasy around this. Lynne Reid Banks, years later, did the same with a different non-historical toy in "The Indian in the Cupboard", but Clarke did it first. Of course Clarke's story about toys that are brought to life by being played with, in itself, is not original. Nor is the idea of the interaction between human and small people (for "small people" read "toys") original - not since Gulliver went to Lilliput, or, a year or two before Clarke, since Mary Norton invented a race of small "Borrowers" - another outstanding classic of children's literature.Branwell Bronte, the ne'er-do-well son, would-be painter, and drug addict, had a set of toy soldiers, in the otherwise grim rooms of Haworth vicarage. These were a stimulus for all the children to play and tell stories, often stories about the soldiers, and their exploits in imaginary countries. The toy soldiers were given names, and characters. They were truly loved by Branwell and his sisters. Small wonder then, if the toys were somehow to be lost, and then more than a century later to be discovered by a small boy, who in turn loves them - and they come back to life, full of Bronte spirit and imagination. The story of their "Return" turns into a quest, both for them to be restored to their rightful home, and for them to be allowed to be themselves, safe from prying humans, from museum dryness, and from interference, however well-meaning. Their "Return" is a quest of growing up, becoming independent, becoming people. Toys imbued with childish characteristics by the children who loved them, created them, and played with them, can only grwo up so much. Max, the twentieth century boy who re-discovers them can grow up far more. This is a neglected classic - in its time a Carnegie Medal winner - the British equivalent for a children's book of an Academy Award. It should also be noted that Clarke wrote many other outstanding books for children - sadly, also neglected - fantasies, historical novels, and plain (?) everyday (?) comedies of family life. She ought to be far better known. You could spend a year reading and not find anything as good as "The Return of the Twelve", also known as "The Return of the genii" in Britain. Very highly recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: One tin soldier rides away
Review: The idea for this book seems so obvious in retrospect that it's a small miracle that no one thought of writing it before 1962. It was really just a stroke of luck that author Pauline Clarke happened to be the one to put pen to paper and write the tale herself. Or rewrite it, depending on your interpretation. "The Return of the Twelves" takes a classic storytale form (toys coming alive in the presence of children) and ups the ante tenfold. It acknowledges the ingenuity of the Bronte children (placing far more importance on Branwell than he probably deserved) yet makes it lively enough to be perfectly understood by kids today. It's odd to say, but as fantasy tales go, "The Return of the Twelves" is timeless in all the best senses of the term. It's one of those little known children's books that everyone should at least have a passing familiarity with. One of the great little known books for kids.
Max has a secret. An incredible, mysterious, overwhelming secret. When he discovered a cache of old wooden soldiers in his family's new attic, he thought they were fun and all but nothing particularly special. Sure, his dad said that may be over a hundred years old, but that still wasn't too shocking. No, it was the fact that the soldiers were alive. Magnificently alive. Finding himself now a benevolent deity to a crew of twelve lively individuals, Max befriends his tiny pals and discovers their secrets. They were once the property of the Bronte children, years and years ago. Their exploits have been well recorded in "History of the Young Men" (by Branwell Bronte) and their names and personalities established therein. Yet when an American collector offers a high price for the Twelves, wherever they might be, Max finds his new friends threatened and acts of heroism and derring-do quickly follow.
The real genius of the book comes from the fact that Clarke began with something real ("History of the Young Men" WAS created by the four Bronte kids) and adapted it seamlessly with fantastical elements (living soldiers). The effect is that the book works like a slightly more mature "Indian in the Cupboard" or even "Toy Story". In the hands of a lesser artist, this tale would've been trite or cheap. Certainly the soldiers never really act like real men. They're perfectly content to scale great heights in the attic or act like toys in fake battles against chessmen. Still, Clarke is to be commended for giving each soldier an individual personality and history in keeping with that determined by the original Brontes.
Which is not to say that the book doesn't have its flaws. I mean, it was originally written in 1962. I think you can guess the state of the gender roles. Also, there are odd plot points that come up at interesting moments. An evil toy seeker near the end of the book adds a bit of "Huh?" to the overall proceedings. But as it is, the book has pretty much held up well. There are some scenes of genuine tension when the Twelves escape from Max's attic and attempt to make it to the Brontes' original home. And there are mysteries that remain long after the story finishes.
Overall, this is a fine piece of literature. Nothing dates it so much that kids today reading it won't be enthused by the characters' foibles, betrayals, and loyalities. And any boy or girl who stares at their dolls lovingly, hoping to bring them to true three-dimensional life, will empathize with this story. It's a lovely enchanting tale.
Rating:
Summary: THE POWER OF GENIUS!
Review: When 8 year-old Max discovers a box of 12 wooden soldiers
in Napoleonic uniforms, hidden in the attic of their new home,
he is naturally delighted. But is there a link between this old house and the Bronte museum nearby? His find becomes a rare
treasure when he realizes that The Twelves are alive, having
been endowed by their four genii (the literary Bronte children)
with incredible abilities: to think, speak, behave and regenerate their lives at will! Each man has his own name, appearance and identity, reflecting the various aspects of the children's own personalities. But how long can Max keep his precious secret, with two suspicious older siblings nosing about?
This charming tale of miniatures answers the questions posed by Margery Williams: what is real and how do toys come alive? Max must learn to trust first his sister, then even an adult, as he struggles to prevent the unthinkable: crass commercial sale and heartless exportation to America. What devastating deportation to the Young Men, as a result of media curiosity and a mercenary older brother. Is there no way they can be saved for literary England and preserved in safety where they truly belong? Young Max behaves in a surprisingly adult manner, as he insists on permitting the Twelves to chart their own destiny. Keeping their military dignity intact, they attempt and accomplish marvels of logistics with minimal aid. This is a cute, imaginative tale (which might inspire some interest in the original Four Genii), for children of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: THE POWER OF GENIUS!
Review: When 8 year-old Max discovers a box of 12 wooden soldiers
in Napoleonic uniforms, hidden in the attic of their new home,
he is naturally delighted. But is there a link between this old house and the Bronte museum nearby? His find becomes a rare
treasure when he realizes that The Twelves are alive, having
been endowed by their four genii (the literary Bronte children)
with incredible abilities: to think, speak, behave and regenerate their lives at will! Each man has his own name, appearance and identity, reflecting the various aspects of the children's own personalities. But how long can Max keep his precious secret, with two suspicious older siblings nosing about?
This charming tale of miniatures answers the questions posed by Margery Williams: what is real and how do toys come alive? Max must learn to trust first his sister, then even an adult, as he struggles to prevent the unthinkable: crass commercial sale and heartless exportation to America. What devastating deportation to the Young Men, as a result of media curiosity and a mercenary older brother. Is there no way they can be saved for literary England and preserved in safety where they truly belong? Young Max behaves in a surprisingly adult manner, as he insists on permitting the Twelves to chart their own destiny. Keeping their military dignity intact, they attempt and accomplish marvels of logistics with minimal aid. This is a cute, imaginative tale (which might inspire some interest in the original Four Genii), for children of all ages.
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