The Snow Goose

A new edition of a beautiful, poignant classic with stunning illustrations from acclaimed illustrator Angela Barrett.Philip Rhayader lives alone in an abandoned lighthouse on the desolate Great Marsh of Essex. One afternoon, a hauntingly beautiful child, Fritha, visits Rhayader, bringing with her an injured snow goose. At first Fritha is scared of Rhayader, with his sinister hump and crooked hand, but he is gentle and kind and Fritha begins to visit regularly. When the snow goose departs for home, Rhayader is left alone again.The following winter, the snow goose and Fritha return to the lighthouse. Time passes and one year Fritha is frightened to discover her feelings for Rhayader. But this is 1940 and Rhayader is setting sail for Dunkirk to help the soldiers trapped on the beaches. Fritha never sees Rhayader again. But the story of the saviour with the snow goose passes from soldier to soldier and into legend . . .

Short-listed for Kate Greenaway Medal 2009

“The Snow Goose is a picture-book nirvana . . . This is the sort of stylish, sophisticated stuff you might want to keep for yourself”

The Snow Goose is a picture-book nirvana . . . This is the sort of stylish, sophisticated stuff you might want to keep for yourself -- Sally Williams Independent
Inspired pastel reimagining of Paul Gallico's World War classic Observer
A most impressive, newly illustrated edition of this clear and simple, yet powerful, tale of an outsider Carousel
A story that could have been written for Angela Barrett to illustrate . . . This is Barrett at her consummate best. 5 stars Books for Keeps
Haunting and lyrical tale of love and loss and courage . . . A classic tale for every generation Pregnancy and Parenting

Paul William Gallico was born in New York City in 1897. He was one of the most well-known sporting writers in America, and a minor celebrity. But he had always wanted to be a fiction writer and eventually retired from sports writing and went to live in Europe to devote himself to writing novels and short stories.Though his name was well-known in the United States, he was unknown to the rest of the world until 1941, when The Snow Goose was published. He died in Antibes in 1976, just short of his 79th birthday.Angela Barrett studied illustration at the Royal College of Art and after graduating in 1980, she began an acclaimed career in children's book illustration. Angela won the Smarties Award in 1988. She lives in London.

A modern classic, THE SNOW GOOSE is set in the years running up to the remarkable evacuation of Dunkirk in the Second World War. On the desolate Essex marshes, a young girl, Fritha, comes to seek help from Phillip Rhayader, a recluse who lives in an abandoned lighthouse. She carries in her arms a wounded snow goose. Fritha is frightened of Rhayader, but he is gentler than his appearance suggests and nurses the goose back to health. Over the following months and years, Fritha only visits the lighthouse when the snow goose is there. And every summer, when it flies away, Rhayader is left alone once more. Beautifully written, with a powerful ending, and breathtakingly illustrated by Angela Barrett, this is an exquisite edition of Gallico's masterpiece.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.