📕The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

This classic children's fantasy book has many devoted adult fans, including Robert Macfarlane, Helen Macdonald, Simon McBurney and ... me.

Watch to discover more about why this book helps us think about some of life's really big things (Time, Light vs Dark, Midwinter ....) a glimpse at a bedside bookshelf, and also see me totally fail to control Alfie!!

Have you read The Dark is Rising? What do you make of it?

[nathanhall]

The book I read when I was 14 and to this day, there has been no other book has illustrated such a vivid picture in my mind while reading. The whole series, but particularly this book, which was the first I read, has never left me. A wonderful way to bring feelings of dread into a beautiful story line whilst not being horrific. Incredible writing and great review.

[krishoel]

An absolute favorite; read as a child, then read to my children, who I hope will read it to theirs. Just listened to the BBC dramatization. 💗

[pauloliver]

It is lovely to connect with other people who are so affected by this book. Your thoughts about "the dark" taking many forms, especially during the winter are very pertinent. It is not just specific malevolence, but more subtle forces such as loneliness and the desire for the "magical". Susan Cooper was able to connect with so many of us because of the way the "magical" was placed into a very real, very down to earth context. I wonder if anyone else who loves this book is equally affected by Mervyn Peake's Titus Groan/Gormenghast and Ursula Le Guin's Wizard of Earthsea- even though those world's are very different to that of our's as represented in The Dark is Rising?

[Mrjacharles]

Huh. That's a new one on me. Always appreciate a fellow reader, no matter the book. :)