It is a very moving account of a family separated by war and how they find inner strength to survive their wartime lot, always holding on to the hope that someday they may find all or some of their family. The silver sword is essentially about the childrens journey, on their own, to. Mar 31, 2012 ian serraillier september 24, 1912 november 28, 1994, was a british novelist and poet. Escape from warsaw by ian serraillier, originally titled the silver sword, is the advent. I recently read the book the silver sword by ian serraillier, through school. The silver sword by ian serraillier is an unforgettable world war ii survival story. The book made me more interested in the world war 2. Buy the silver sword new ed by serraillier, ian, serraillier, jane isbn.
The story follows the harrowing journey they make to find safety and reunite their family. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office at 26 red lion square london wc1r 4hq. Buy a cheap copy of the silver sword book by ian serraillier. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far.
Review of the book the silver sword by ian serraillier. Three polish children are left to survive in a wartorn poland after their parents are taken away by the nazis. The silver sword is a little letter opener, but becomes a talisman, a link to which the three children are reunited with their parents. The silver sword by ian serraillier overdrive rakuten.
But due to ruths love about her, she grew up as a lovely, wise girl. The silver sword by ian serrailler recommendation youtube. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The silver sword by serraillier, ian and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
They meet a ragged orphan boy, jan, who treasures a paperknife a silver sword which was entrusted to him by an escaped prisoner of war. Tes global ltd is registered in england company no 02017289 with its registered office. The phrase never judge a book by its cover proves correct. The father, joseph balicki, is a headmaster at a primary school on the outskirts of warsaw. This website and its content is subject to our terms and conditions. The imperial war museum is running an exhibition until october 2011 called once upon a wartime. The silver sword by ian serraillier 9780099572855paperback.
He gave me the sword and its our guide and life line. The silver sword, a little paperknife, is a symbol of hope to four children as they make their way across. Aug 02, 2012 the silver sword ebook written by ian serraillier. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. The balicki family joseph, his wife margrit and their three children ruth, edek and bronia, who live in warsaw, are separated by war. Joseph and margrit have agreed that if this happens. When the nazis take their parents away, three children must learn to survive in wartorn warsaw by themselves. Jul 18, 2011 the imperial war museum is running an exhibition until october 2011 called once upon a wartime.
The silver sword by ian serraillier, published in 1956, is set during and. It had also been published in the us under the title escape from warsaw. What is the theme of the book the silver sword by ian serraillier. When they meet jan they recognise the paperknife he is carrying as their fathers, and it becomes their symbol of hope as the four children make the dangerous journey to switzerland. Both books tell the story of escape from nazi germany, through a childs eyes. He also retold legends from rome, greece and england, and was best known for his childrens books. He was educated and then became a english teacher for 25 years.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. From 1961 he worked in his sussex home writing mainly for children. The silver sword by serraillier, ian and a great selection of related books. Ian serraillier was born in london in 1912, and educated at brighton college and st.
Ian serraillier wrote many childrens books but the silver sword is his most famous and most beloved, and it has never been out of print. Jun 05, 2014 gemma muina made this trailer of the book we have read this term in our english book club. Hungry, cold, and afraid, the four children try to stay alive among the ruins of bombed cities in wartorn europe. The silver sword, a little paperknife, is a symbol of hope to four children as they make their way across the wastes of postwar europe from warsaw to switzerland in search of their parents.
As they travel through europe towards switzerland, where they believe they will be. The silver sword realistically presents the problems of war as seen through the eyes of a polish family torn apart by world war ii. The silver sword is only a paper knife but it gives jan and his friends hope. Although the silver sword was only a paper knife, it became the symbol of hope and courage which kept the balicki children and their orphan friend jan alive through the four years of occupation when they had to fend for themselves. The characters could still be representatives of children in more recent and current wars. Soon they will begin the jan opened his wooden box and took out the silver sword. The three children realise that the escapee was their father, the silver sword a message that he is alive and searching for them. The silver sword is a novel by ian serraillier, a childrens classic, first published in the uk in 1956 by jonathan cape and then by puffin books in 1960. The silver sword, by ian serraillier the story the silver sword is the story of four polish siblings and their experience of the war and its aftermath. Click to read more about the silver sword by ian serraillier. Serraillier was best known for his childrens books, especially the silver sword novel 1956, a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television. The silver sword by ian serraillier knight hall agency. Ian serraillier september 24, 1912 november 28, 1994, was a british novelist and poet. The silver sword by ian serraillier penguin books new zealand.
Alone and fending for themselves in a poland devastated by world war two, jan and his three homeless friends cling to the silver sword as a symbol of hope. Together with jan they begin a dangerous journey across the battlefields of europe to find their parents. The novels main characters include three childrenruth, edek, and bronia balickiwho are left to live as best they can in the streets of warsaw when their father is sent to a prison camp and their mother is. Camila challapa grisley lucas maryori mamani grade. After all these years, this is still an absorbing story. Serraillier was best known for his childrens books. However he his best known for his children books especially the silver sword. I would want to read another book by ian serraillier. Immediately download the the silver sword summary, chapter by chapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching the silver sword. I expected the story to have a sad ending because in a real war, how would they know where their parents are. Because i ended up really enjoying travelling the journey of the war stricken world with jan and the balakis. The silver sword by ian serraillier, paperback barnes. Ian serraillier 24 september 1912 28 november 1994 was a british novelist and poet.
He also retold legends from rome, greece and england, and was best known for his childrens books, especially the silver sword 1956, a wartime adventure story that was. His main achievements included novels, poetry, retellings in verse and prose, educational and local history books. Ruth, edek, jan and bronia are all based on real children, and even the silver sword paper knife was real. The silver sword book by ian serraillier thriftbooks. If you meet ruth or edek or bronia, you must tell them im going to switzerland to find their mother.
Ian serraillier 24 september 1912 28 november 1994 was a british novelist and poet, best known for his childrens books, especially the silver sword 1956. The silver sword, by ian serraillier by monique carrigan on prezi. Serraillier was best known for his childrens books, especially the silver sword novel 1956, a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the bbc in 1957 and again in 1971. Chapter 1 summary the silver sword by ian serraillier opens with a description of the polish family at the heart of the story. The silver sword by ian serraillier opens with a description of the polish family at the heart of the story. Three polish children try to escape from their warravaged home during world war ii. After graduating from st edmund hall in 1935, ian spent twentyfive years as an english teacher a career which enabled and informed his writing. War horse by michael morpurgo, carries war by nina bawden, the machine gunners by robert westall, the silver sword by ian serraillier, and little soldier by bernard ashley. As a quaker, ian was a conscientious objector during the second world war. Ian serrailliers classic tale of courage and endurance during the second world war will live on in the readers memory long after the book is closed. When reading this book one can expect to go on a rollercoster of emotions. The silver sword teaching activities teaching resources. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the silver sword. The classic tale of a journey through wartorn europe.
Ian serraillier wrote many childrens books but the. The silver sword by ian serraillier penguin books new. The silver sword unabridged audiobook, by ian serraillier. Ian serraillier ian serraillier biography poem hunter. Lastly, due to the fact that he grew up in the enviroment of war, he hates and does not trust any soldiers.
Text study activities for the silver sword by ian serraillier. The silver sword by john escott goodreads share book. The story is based upon fact, although fictional names are given to a few of the places mentioned. The silver sword, by ian serraillier by monique carrigan. Tell them to follow as soon as they can having lost their parents in the chaos of war, ruth, edek and bronia are left alone to fend for themselves and hide from the nazis amid the rubble and ruins. The silver sword by ian serraillier, 9780099439493, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. When their father, the head teacher of a polish primary school, turned a portrait of hitler to face the wall, the nazis found. An overview and plot summary of the silver sword by ian serraillier. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The silver sword by ian serraillier penguin books australia. Serraillier was best known for his childrens books, especially the silver sword novel 1956, a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the bbc in 1957 and again in 1971 born in london, serraillier was educated at brighton college, and took his degree at st.
The silver sword study guide contains a biography of ian serraillier, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full. Soon the walls wewre covered with pictures of people queueing outside the soup kitchen and of children playing hide and seek. The silver sword ian serraillier introduction the story the silver sword takes place during and immediately after the second world war. The silver sword also known as escape from warsaw takes place in warsaw during world war ii. Walter hodges historical fiction ages 12 and up random house uk, 1956, 0224070770 for bronia, edek, and ruth balicki their life began to fall apart when their father was arrested in 1940 and sent to a prisoner of war camp. The silver sword by ian serraillier book trailer youtube. I have no criticism and looked forward to reading it at night. He also retold legends from rome, greece and england, and was best known for his childrens books, especially the silver sword 1956, a wartime adventure story that was adapted for television by the bbc in 1957 and again in 1971.
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