the Phoenix and the Carpet

[meidbh]

Impatient with waiting for book 6 I went searching this week for a 
copy of "the Phoenix and the Carpet" by E Nesbit. Her books, 
especially the ones with magic, were firm favourites of mine as a 
child. I was curious to see how they stood the test of time AND to 
see if I could trace any of JKR's inspirations back to their roots. 
It's quite likely her first major encounter with a phoenix (among 
other things) was thanks to E Nesbit. But I was disappointed to find 
that E Nesbit had apparently been purged from the shelves of some of 
the bigger London booksellers. Still available by special order of 
course but not out on the shelf anymore. 

So in shock I turned to the internet and discovered the e-book! What 
a fantastic idea. And I found "the Phoenix and the Carpet" (as well 
as lots of other books). It was still a great read and I really 
recommend you try it.

If you're not convinced yet then try this Gore Vidal essay from 1964 
first
www.nybooks.com/articles/13132

And as for the books, start with "Five Children and It", 
then "Phoenix and the Carpet" and then "The Story of the Amulet". 
All available at
www.classicbookshelf.com/library/e_nesbit/

Not only could she write a good read but she was a fascinatingly 
unconventional and independent woman. Could you imagine sharing your 
home with your husband's mistress and bringing up her children as 
your own? She did. Apparently she "...was always surrounded by 
adoring young men, dazzled by her vitality, amazing talent and the 
sheer magnificence of her appearance. She was a very tall woman, 
built on the grand scale, and on festive occasions wore a trailing 
gown of peacock blue satin with strings of beads and Indian bangles 
from wrist to elbow. Madame, as she was always called, smoked 
incessantly, and her long cigarette holder became an indissoluble 
part of the picture she suggested–a raffish Rossetti, with a long 
full throat, and dark luxuriant hair, smoothly parted. She was a 
wonderful woman, large hearted, amazingly unconventional, but with 
sudden strange reversions to ultra-respectable standards. Her 
children's stories had an immense vogue, and she could write 
unconcernedly in the midst of a crowd, smoking like a chimney all 
the while"
(www.modjourn.brown.edu/mjp/Bios/Nesbit.html)

I could go on but if you're interested you don't need me to say any 
more - happy reading :-)

Meidbh