The Railway Children

By: E. Nesbit

Narrated by: Virginia Leishman

Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Father has suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. Now Mother has moved Roberta, Peter, and Phyllis from London to an old English country house. Missing the hustle and bustle of the city, the children are ecstatic to find that their new home is near a railway station. Making friends with both the porter and the station master is great fun. So is waving to a kindly old gentleman who rides through on the 9:15 every morning. When mother gets sick, it is he to whom they turn for help. And later, when a fortunate twist of fate returns their father to them, they are surprised to find the old gentleman involved once again.

Written by an unconventional woman whose friends included H. G. Wells and George Bernard Shaw, this classic has been popular since it was first published almost 100 years ago. Virginia Leishman’s enthusiasm translates these adventuresome children into heroes for modern listeners.

Public Domain (P)1999 Recorded Books

Absolutely Heartwarming

I listened to this book upon recommendation of a homeschool podcast that I love. I had to talk myself into listening to it. I am so glad that I did. This book was such a lesson in goodness , perseverance, and hope. I felt uplifted after finishing it. It was well done.

Charming Story

Charming story. Fabulous narrator. A wonderful feel-good tale for all ages. This story was first published in 1906 but still resonates today.

Sweet story

A lovely sweet story. My only complaint is the sounds of the narrator's swallowing. I'm guessing it's a sound editing issue being that the narrator did a great job.

A true classic

This story was published in 1905 and set in the time of railways and carriages rather than cars and cellphones but the characters are timeless. Human nature remains remarkably constant and we can relate to the people even though we now have a superabundance of technology. This is probably just about the first children’s story set in a realistic “contemporary” world. It has kept its freshness as a story and is a fascinating bit of social history as well. .

Delightful

What a delightful old story of mutual family love and respect as told through three young children

Great narrator voice

Just the way I imagined E. Nesbit would sound - I forgot I was not listening to the author herself. Perfect.

Harsh reading, atmospheric children’s tale

Narrator is schoolmarm British, her cadence is relatively slow on average with spurts. She emphasizes the first vowel sound of each word and clips the rest. Since the prose is mostly monosyllabic, it seems harsh to my American ears. When I speed it up, pleasant expression is better revealed.
I call it “atmospheric”as it gives the sense of WW1 England from a child’s perspective. The broader situation is not explained as an adult would expect. You know and accept the world around you as you experience it. Hardship and boredom aren’t much recognized. Kinship and outdoor play fill your world. Sweet foods are a treat and a luxury. The children cope with illness, poverty, villainy and the kindness of strangers.
Audible also offers a short abridged version of this story if you just want a small taste of this classic. It’s narrated in a similar but slightly more melodic way.

Magical family classic.

Though I stumbled upon this story recently, it affected me similarly to Frances Hodgson Burnett's beloved story "A Little Princess" did when I read it as a child and reread still. (Audible has an unabridged recording of that title narrated equally well by Virginia Leishman.) It's a delightful story, beautifully and gently told in the time of British trains that will appeal to readers young and old.

Justice Triumphs

Have seen this movie several times, but reading the book gives more details. Great for kids.

Delightful

I throughly enjoyed this book, which holds up well against the passage of time. At its core, the tale is one of trying to do good for everyone who crosses your path and holding a family together despite injustice & financial woes. The ending is a happy one for all involved, so I'll probably be reading this one to my grandkids