The Richleighs of Tantamount

The Richleighs of Tantamount

First US edition
Author Barbara Willard
Cover artist C. Walter Hodges
Genre Children's literature
Publisher Constable (UK)
Harcourt, Brace & World (USA)
Publication date
1966 (UK)
July 1, 1967 (USA)
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Pages 189

The Richleighs of Tantamount is a children’s historical novel written by British author Barbara Willard. It was originally published in the United Kingdom in 1966 by the publishers, Constable, before being published in the United States by Harcourt, Brace & World in June 1967. C. Walter Hodges drew the line illustrations and painted the cover portrait for the original edition.

Chapters

  1. To Be a Richleigh...
  2. Toy Sunday
  3. The Travellers
  4. The Arrival
  5. Tantamount
  6. Strangers on the Shore
  7. The Castaways
  8. Nancy and Dick
  9. The Wonderful Day
  10. Wreckers' Castle
  11. The Grand Idea
  12. Pursuit
  13. Home from the Sea
  14. An End...
  15. ...or a Beginning

Synopsis

The book tells the story of four young siblings—Edwin, Angeline, Sebastian and Maud—who live together in a London mansion in Victorian society (c. the 1870s), along with their wealthy parents. These four children have been longing all their lives for their maiden visit to Tantamount, a castle on the Cornish coast, built by their great-great-great-grandfather. From time to time, the children wonder about its mysterious past as they look at the gigantic painting of the castle that dominates a wall in their drawing room.

Their lives are changed one fateful, unforgettable July when their father contracts a serious illness. The children are sent to stay at the castle while their parents go on a sea voyage to repair his health. Only when the children begin to explore do they realize that despite being built and furnished in magnificent style, the castle is suffering from decades of neglect. The tutor and governess are shocked by the condition of the place and leave abruptly. Soon the recently engaged servants do the same, but the children decide to stay on alone.

Regarding themselves as castaways, they enjoy their freedom despite the hardships. They make friends with two local children, Nancy and Dick, and are worried when they disappear. They begin to suspect that the castle is being used for smuggling and even wrecking. Tantamount is destroyed by fire, but when the parents arrive at last they are relieved to find their children have survived.

Characters

The Richleigh four

Their parents

Inside the London house

Mentioned by the family

At Tantamount and vicinity

Customs

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.