Redcap Runs Away Paperback – 1 Jan. 1957

I had read this book as a ten year old and now more than 50 years later enjoyed it just as much. It is the story of a child who runs away from home to join a troupe of minstrels, learns their skills, lives their primitive and dangerous lifestyle and eventually one year later returns home to his parents. It gives today's youngsters an idea of what life was like before electricity, motorised transport, paved roads, running water, supermarkets and their ready meals and the multiplicity of choice that children enjoy in the 21st century, not to mention instant communication and social networking sites. The work that minstrels did in the 14th century exists today in a different format: they used to entertain by singing, dancing, reciting poetry, telling stories and jokes as well as acting out short scenes. All of this is seen today, mainly on TV. My grandson will soon be of an age to enjoy this kind of literature, as well as modern day fantasies.

The book finally limped in today more than a month later than expected. It is a very old copy with front and back corners cut off and the pages all yellow. For a company called fairandfast this is terrible service.

I picked this as it was one, if not the most memorable book of my childhood. Remembered with affection and still as good today.

This is a book I remembered reading years ago when I was a child. I never forgot it and was desperate to get hold of a copy. Unfortunately it had been out of print for many years so I was delighted to find I could buy it on Amazon. I read it within a day of receiving it and was so pleased it was as good as I had remembered. Although written for children the writing was so evocative of the middle ages and so well written it was a joy to read as an adult. The story revolves around a nine/ten year old boy who longs for adventure and runs away to join a minstrel band and to find a long lost uncle. Life on the road is hard and Redcap learns many lessons along the way. At the end he has a big decision to make - to return to his life as the son of the village blacksmith or to continue with the minstrels. I think this story would appeal to children over eight years old and any adult who loves history, especially the medieval period.

I read this in 1979 when I was 12 years old. I loved it then and have always remembered it fondly. It should be put back into print and classified as a twentieth century classic.

Like the last reviewer, I had been read this as a child and had amazing, colourful, evocative memories. Luckily, my family had kept the book and I know look forward to reading it to my children.