Classics: Robin Stevens on Trebizon by Anne Digby

As a huge fan of the Trebizon books I am THRILLED that Egmont are bringing them back to shelves of bookshops everywhere! The first three, complete with gorgeous new Lucy Truman illustrations, were rereleased yesterday  - so to celebrate I'm delighted to have fabulous MG mystery author Robin Stevens on the blog talking about them.

Trebizon: True Modern Classics

Many of the books I loved most as a child were given to me by my father. I have endless memories of him coming into my room with stacks of Enid Blytons and Arthur Ransomes that had been part of his childhood – and because of that, they became my childhood too. Those series are what stick in my mind when I’m asked to nominate my own children’s classics, because they were the books that my father thought were important enough to pass on to me.

I think that’s key to what a classic is: a book that you want to share, even years after you first read it. As I’ve grown up I’ve realised that there’s a particular joy in passing on a book. There were certain books that I couldn’t wait to give to my niece and nephew as soon as they were old enough for them, and that I already know I’ll give to any children my friends and I have. The characters in them feel like friends, and their plots are still rich and exciting no matter how many times I read them.

My father was in his fifties when he had me, and I was born in 1988, so I missed the Trebizon books when they were published for the first time. My boarding school books were Malory Towers, the Worst Witch and Harry Potter. Now that I’ve finally discovered them, though, I can see why so many of my friends are such devoted fans of the series. As far as I’m concerned, boarding school books should be as much fantasies as Narnia – even people who went to boarding schools crave Malory Towers, because there’s never been a real school like it – and that’s exactly what Trebizon delivers. They’re joyous slices of boarding school life that perfectly tread the line between fantasy and reality. And, much to my delight, they’re even mysteries – although a much gentler brand than my own. No dead teachers here, just disappearing students and mysteriously stolen motor vehicles, but the crimes are all solved by a warm and loving group of friends who fall in and out of favour with each other in a beautifully realistic way.

I’m delighted that from February this year, the Trebizon books will be back in print, and book lovers will have the chance to pass them on again. They’re both fresh and nostalgic, and they work on first reading as much as on repeated rereading. They’re everything a classic should be!


Robin Stevens is the award winning author of the Murder Most Unladylike series, which follows the adventures of schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong.



Thanks for a fab post Robin!
 
If you enjoy reading classics, or if you want to read more, why not join the fantastic Classics Challenge hosted by my friend Stacey over at Pretty Books? It's a great way to find other classics lovers, discuss books, and get and give recommendations. Check out this post and don't miss the hashtag #2016ClassicsChallenge!