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| Author | Christianna Brand |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Edward Ardizzone |
| Country | UK |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Brockhampton Press |
| Published | 1964–1974 |
| No. of books | 3 |
The Nurse Matilda books were written by the British children's author Christianna Brand (1907–1988) and illustrated by her cousin, Edward Ardizzone. The books are based on stories told to the cousins by their great-grandfather.[1]
They concern a hideously ugly witch known as Nurse Matilda who has been highly recommended to Mr. and Mrs. Brown as a nursemaid by several agencies. Nurse Matilda arrives at the household of the Brown family and becomes a nanny to the innumerable Brown children. The Brown children are "exceedingly naughty" and frighten off many governesses in wonderfully mischievous ways – until Nurse Matilda comes. She teaches the children to behave, and deals with the fearsome and pernickety Great Aunt Adelaide Stitch. In the end the children become good and decent, and Nurse Matilda leaves to attend another family of naughty children.
In the sequels, the children revert to their wicked ways, and the distressed Mr. and Mrs. Brown have no other choice but to send for Nurse Matilda again.
In the second book, the children are sent to live with their domineering Great Aunt Adelaide in her London manor. In the third and final book, they are whisked away to the hospital following a prank that has gone wrong.
- ^ Alderson, Brian (2003). Edward Ardizzone: A Bibliographic Commentary. Private Libraries Association / The British Library / Oak Knoll Press. p. 143. ISBN 0712347593.