Three brothers, looked after by their maiden aunt during the school holidays, while their parents are in Burma defending the British Empire, decide to escape to the woods (the Chase, a Duke's lands) and live as outlaws rather than spending the autumn term in boarding school. They make their home in an ancient hollow oak tree, survive by hunting and fishing, and outwit the bumbling policeman Bunting and their tutor, the vicar, known as The Whiting. They also become friends of the old charcoal burner who lives alone (with his dog, hens and pigs) in the forest - Smokoe Joe - who teaches them as much as he can about forest lore, trapping, etc.
I particularly appreciated BB's knowledge of nature, and especially Smokoe's lesson about the trees, how they are like people, breathing, talking, communicating - very close to what is explained in many modern books about trees.

An adventure story for boys, who will probably find it very dated, but it entertained this old lady, too, despite all the killings of animals - though only for food and clothing.. ( )

Three brothers, staying with their aunt over school holidays, get fed up with her strict rules and decide to run away to the eponymous woods. With the help of an old hermit also living in Brendon Chase, they manage spectacularly well and stay on for several months.
Think My Side of the Mountain (the boys' part of the story) meets the country-living characters in Jeeves & Wooster (as an example, there's a particularly funny scene in which the local constable goes for a swim and the boys hide his clothing in the vicar's car while the vicar, all unwitting, chases butterflies with his net). ( )

A book all boys should read and all brothers should read and probably all girls should read so they know what might make boys tick. Reminded me off the lovely movie Beau Jest about three brothers joining the foreign legion to protect their mother.

Three brothers run away to the forest and live there for a season or two (if memory serves) whilst their father is away. The transition from reliance on everything they are used to ,to adapting to living in nature and using what is provided by the forest is organic and enjoyable to watch unfold. They hunt, make friends, hide out, explore, discover....it is a real journey for the boys despite them hiding in a giant forest the whole time.

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Very good boys adventure. Three boys run away and live in the woods. ( )

A re-read for me. Seems to have dated more than I remember in 1985. An interesting romp involving, early twentieth century upper middle class school boys running off & living an outlaws life in a chase in the country. This documents their adventures, hunting, and their fine love for the country side. At times, captivating, but also at times, has passages of little dynamism. The author clearly loves the British countryside, and this clearly shines through the prose. Good for reading one time, but not repeatedly. Only really for children of school age. Also dreadfully politically incorrect. ( )