The Beasts of Clawstone Castle
Encyclopedia
The Beasts of Clawstone Castle is a 2005 book by Eva Ibbotson
.
At the beginning of the summer term, Mr Hamilton receives an offer to spend two months in New York from an American college, offering a very large amount of money, which the family needs, in a course in setting up a business in design. They cannot take the children and are in a small crisis, so they see what their daughter thinks. Madlyn does not like it as she has four parties and many other arrangements for the next two months. They decide to go, buying Madlyn a jumper and boots, sending them to Clawstone Castle at the Scottish border to their Uncle George.
George wakes early on Saturdays for that is when his castle is open to the public. There is no hot water because the boiler is as old as himself. His hair is sparse, he wears a mustard coloured tweed suit and his sister Emily also wakes early. Howard Percival, their cousin, never comes out of his room and he is frightened of anyone he has not known for the last twenty years, he is very shy.
Mrs Grove comes in from the village to help, and that day she was preparing breakfast. She disapproves of how George and Emily deal with Howard, but she puts the coffee on instead of making a comment. Emily goes and prepares the gift shop. She feels sad at the thought of the rival Trembellow gift shop, which is larger. George starts preparing his work in the castle. He also feels sad at the thought of the rival Trembellow dungeons.
Mrs Grove's sister came to start taking the tickets, bringing with her what the villagers have donated to help the castle. The day does not go well, by midday only ten people had arrived, and most of them get bored. They then receive the letter. George is infuriated. He reluctantly agrees.
Madlyn is shocked at Clawstone's appearance. When she meets their Uncle and Aunt (unmarried) she is uncertain, Emily takes them round and Howard is frightened by them. They see their rooms and go to bed. The next day they make friends with Mrs Grove and Madlyn takes to the museum. Rollo likes the dungeon. hen Madlyn meets Mrs Grove's son, Ned and learns about Olive, the Trembellow's daughter. Madlyn and Rollo go to Mrs Grove's house to watch TV. When they get back Emily is preparing for Open Day again. Madlyn asks why the money is so important and Mrs Grove answers, It's for the cows.
The next day Sir George takes Madlyn and Rollo to see his white cows. They are astonishing, and George buys Rollo a pair of binoculars. Madlyn Rollo and Ned go and see Howard, and understand that they need ghosts to make the castle better.
Eva Ibbotson
Eva Ibbotson was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her award-winning children's books as well as her novels for adults - several of which have been successfully reissued for the young adult readership in recent years.-Personal life:Eva Ibbotson was born Maria Charlotte Michelle Wiesner...
.
Plot
Madlyn and Rollo live with their parents in a ground-floor flat in south London. Mrs Hamilton runs a theatre where the plays kept running out of money, Mr Hamilton is a designer and helps people with their houses. Madlyn is very attractive and has many friends. She likes parties and sleepovers, with fair hair and blue eyes and a deep laugh. Rollo is two years younger and likes animals and insects. He has an adopted skink at London Zoo called Stumpy. Madlyn is helpful to her brother and mother, who is usually frantic and forgets things like car keys.At the beginning of the summer term, Mr Hamilton receives an offer to spend two months in New York from an American college, offering a very large amount of money, which the family needs, in a course in setting up a business in design. They cannot take the children and are in a small crisis, so they see what their daughter thinks. Madlyn does not like it as she has four parties and many other arrangements for the next two months. They decide to go, buying Madlyn a jumper and boots, sending them to Clawstone Castle at the Scottish border to their Uncle George.
George wakes early on Saturdays for that is when his castle is open to the public. There is no hot water because the boiler is as old as himself. His hair is sparse, he wears a mustard coloured tweed suit and his sister Emily also wakes early. Howard Percival, their cousin, never comes out of his room and he is frightened of anyone he has not known for the last twenty years, he is very shy.
Mrs Grove comes in from the village to help, and that day she was preparing breakfast. She disapproves of how George and Emily deal with Howard, but she puts the coffee on instead of making a comment. Emily goes and prepares the gift shop. She feels sad at the thought of the rival Trembellow gift shop, which is larger. George starts preparing his work in the castle. He also feels sad at the thought of the rival Trembellow dungeons.
Mrs Grove's sister came to start taking the tickets, bringing with her what the villagers have donated to help the castle. The day does not go well, by midday only ten people had arrived, and most of them get bored. They then receive the letter. George is infuriated. He reluctantly agrees.
Madlyn is shocked at Clawstone's appearance. When she meets their Uncle and Aunt (unmarried) she is uncertain, Emily takes them round and Howard is frightened by them. They see their rooms and go to bed. The next day they make friends with Mrs Grove and Madlyn takes to the museum. Rollo likes the dungeon. hen Madlyn meets Mrs Grove's son, Ned and learns about Olive, the Trembellow's daughter. Madlyn and Rollo go to Mrs Grove's house to watch TV. When they get back Emily is preparing for Open Day again. Madlyn asks why the money is so important and Mrs Grove answers, It's for the cows.
The next day Sir George takes Madlyn and Rollo to see his white cows. They are astonishing, and George buys Rollo a pair of binoculars. Madlyn Rollo and Ned go and see Howard, and understand that they need ghosts to make the castle better.