The Borrowers

Norton, Mary. The Borrowers. Illustrated by Sian Bailey. Introduction by Julia Eccleshare. London, Penguin, 2003. 12.5 x 19.5cm. 241 pages, with black and white text illustrations. Original softcover with endpapers. Excellent condition other than partial sunning to front jacket and spine. [Puffin Modern Classics]. A classic of children's literature, first published in 1952. The Borrowers live in the secret places of quiet old houses; behind the mantelpiece, inside the harpsichord, under the kitchen clock. They own nothing, borrow everything, and think that human beings were invented just to do the dirty work. Arrietty's father, Pod, was an expert Borrower. He could scale curtains using a hatpin, and bring back a doll's teacup without breaking it. Girls weren't supposed to go borrowing but as Arrietty was an only child her father broke the rule, and then something happened which changed their lives. She made friends with the human boy living in the house. [Penguin]