The Wool-Pack

The Wool-Pack is a children's historical novel written and illustrated by Cynthia Harnett, published by Methuen in 1951. It was the first published of four children's novels that Harnett set in 15th-century England. She won the annual Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising it as the year's best children's book by a British subject.[3]

The Wool-Pack
Front cover of the first edition
AuthorCynthia Harnett
IllustratorCynthia Harnett
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's historical novel
PublisherMethuen
Publication date
25 October 1951
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages184 pp (first edition)
OCLC621582
LC ClassPZ7.H228 Wo[1]
PZ7.H228 Ni[2]

G. P. Putnam's Sons published the first U.S. edition in 1953, entitled Nicholas and the Wool-Pack: an adventure story of the Middle Ages.[2] In 1984 it was reissued under yet another title, The Merchant's Mark (Minneapolis: Lerner). Both American editions retained Harnett's illustrations.

A television miniseries based on the story was broadcast by the BBC in 1970.[4]

Plot summary

Set in the Cotswolds near Burford, Oxfordshire, The Wool-Pack begins in 1493 when Nicholas Fetterlock, the twelve-year-old son of a rich wool merchant, learns from his father that he is betrothed to Cecily Bradshaw, the daughter of a rich cloth merchant. Nicholas discovers villainy within the guild: swindlers who may ruin his father's business, at least. Nicholas, Cecily, and a friend determine to stop them.[2][3][5]

Critical reception

Kirkus Reviews called the first U.S. edition (Putnam, 1953) "attractively bound and accurately illustrated". It credited the story with "the feeling of early renaissance unity".[5]

Adaptation

The Wool Pack was adapted by the BBC as a 90-minute film entitled A Stranger on the Hills, televised in 1970 as a three-part series for children. It starred Raymond Millross as Nicholas Fetterlock, with Godfrey Quigley and Thelma Barlow as his parents.[4] The series was filmed by the BBC in Bristol.

gollark: Most mods would just be "place magic box which magically makes magic power".
gollark: The trick to balance is to be like RotaryCraft and calculate all of the maths in extreme detail.
gollark: This is why I suggested "optional coolant".
gollark: They can just transfer heat to the surroundings.
gollark: Increase power generation by increasing the temperature gradient, or something.

See also

References
  1. "The wool-pack" (first edition). Library of Congress Catalog Record. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  2. "Nicholas and the wool-pack : an adventure story of the Middle Ages" (first U.S. edition). LCC record. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  3. Carnegie Winner 1951. Living Archive: Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners. CILIP. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  4. A Stranger on the Hills on IMDb. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  5. "NICHOLAS AND THE WOOL PACK by Cynthia Harnett". Kirkus Reviews 20 February 1953. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  • The Wool-Pack in libraries (WorldCat catalog) —immediately, first US edition, Nicholas and the wool-pack: ...
  • The Wool-Pack in libraries (WorldCat catalog) —immediately, 1984 US edition, The Merchant's Mark
Awards
Preceded by
The Lark on the Wing		 Carnegie Medal recipient
1951		 Succeeded by
The Borrowers
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