Ruth M. Arthur, an English children's author now sadly out-of-print, is perhaps best known in the United States for her older adolescent novels, which usually feature a young person coming to terms with their own problems while engaged with some mystery from, or echo of, the past. What is not generally known, is that before the publication of Dragon Summer in this country in 1963, the author had a number of books published in Britain, beginning in 1932. The Crooked Brownie is the first in a series of three brief chapter books devoted to the titular character, published from 1936-42.

It sits squarely in the genre of sentimental fantasy stories centering around these cute, diminutive creatures from English and Scots folklore, a genre that has more in common with the Victorian fairy story than the modern variant. It is instructive to note that this type of story was once wildly popular, as witnessed by twenty-five books in Canadian-American author Palmer Cox's Brownie series. All of which is to say, the reader expecting anything similar to Arthur's better-known work, need look no further.

As you might expect, this story follows the adventures of the Crooked Brownie and his friends and neighbors in Birch Wood. Crooked Brownie's search for a housekeeper, the Nimble Gnome's dilemma with regard to his clothing, and Puddy the Frog's difficulties in throwing a Halloween Party, are all recorded here. Although not a fan, generally speaking, of Victorian fantasy-fare, I found myself won over by these simple, good-hearted stories. They somehow managed to be "wholesome" without becoming obnoxious, and although I do not think it would appeal to the young reader of today, this book was a pleasant enough read.

My pleasure in The Crooked Brownie was enhanced by R.M. Turvey's charming black & white illustrations, which appeared on almost every other page, and by the four color plates. ( )