The Children's BookThe Children's Book
Score Modern
What it's about
Olive Wellwood, a famous writer of fairy tales, writes a private story for each of her many children. From the 1890s to the First World War, the novel follows the Wellwoods and the families around them, artists, potters, socialists and puppeteers, as the children grow up in a world of ideals, and discover the secrets their parents have kept.
Why it's worth reading
It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It's a huge, richly detailed novel from the author of Possession.
You'll love it if you liked
Possession
The Luminaries
MiddlemarchGood to know
It's over 600 pages with a huge cast, and full of history and art. It ends in the trenches.
By the numbers
- Readers0 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller23 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #113 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #306 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #1533 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2762 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Epic
More by A. S. Byatt
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Shuggie Bain
The Nickel Boys
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Quick answers
Is The Children's Book worth reading?
Yes. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It ranks #2,762 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 53.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Children's Book about?
Olive Wellwood, a famous writer of fairy tales, writes a private story for each of her many children. From the 1890s to the First World War, the novel follows the Wellwoods and the families around them, artists, potters, socialists and puppeteers, as the children grow up in a world of ideals, and discover the secrets their parents have kept.
How long does it take to read The Children's Book?
About 17 hours (675 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Children's Book?
If you liked it, try Possession by A. S. Byatt, The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton or Middlemarch by George Eliot.