I Capture the Castle

By: Dodie Smith

Narrated by: Emilia Fox

The head of the Mortmain family is Cassandra Mortmain’s father, a writer suffering from writer's block who has not published anything since his first book, a hit entitled Jacob Wresstling. Ten years before the story begins, he took out a 40-year lease on a dilapidated but beautiful castle, hoping to find either inspiration or isolation there; now, his family is selling off the furniture to buy food.

Mortmain's second wife, Topaz, is an exotically beautiful artist's model who enjoys communing with nature, sometimes wearing nothing but hip boots. Rose, the elder daughter, is a classic English beauty longing for a chance to meet some eligible (and preferably rich) young men. Cassandra, the younger daughter and the story's narrator, has literary ambitions and spends a lot of time developing her writing talent by "capturing" everything around her in her journal. Stephen, a handsome, loyal, live-in son of the Mortmain's late cook, and Thomas, the youngest Mortmain child, round off the cast of household characters.

Stephen, a noble soul, is in love with Cassandra, which she finds touching, but a bit awkward; Thomas, a schoolboy, is, like Cassandra, considered "tolerably bright". Things begin to happen when the Cottons, a wealthy American family, inherit nearby Scoatney and become the Mortmains' new landlords. Cassandra and Rose soon become intrigued by the unmarried sons, Simon and Neil, and the inevitable relationships commence.

As the journal advances, the relationships Cassandra depicts become subtler and more problematic, and she concludes her narrative on a bittersweet note. Cassandra, despite being saddened by her first disappointment in love, can still reflect with satisfaction on the Mortmain family's improved fortunes, and looks forward to the future.

I Capture the Castle is a classic coming-of-age novel which stands the test of time and will endure for as long as boy-girl relationships endure.

©1949 CSA Word (P)2003 CSA Word

Critic reviews

"An excellent offering from CSA to be enjoyed by all the family." (Vidar Hjardeng Disability Times)

"One of the most charismatic narrrators I've ever met. Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain captures the castle in her insightful, witty journal entries." (J.K. Rowling)

love the accent

What did you like best about I Capture the Castle? What did you like least?

Loved the characters. I reminded me a little of Pride and Predjudice.

What does Emilia Fox bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Loved the english accent. Made it feel like I was really there.

Vivid emotions and rich descriptions

A story about loving the wrong person. Lovely and sad. The plot is enjoyable and realistic. Ending left me slightly dissatisfied, I wish it went on for longer.
I also really liked the Britishness of it all.

Wonderful story and narration.

Beautiful coming of age story. Narration was perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend this audio book.

Abridged!

This is really a masterfully done audiobook, the narrator does a wonderful job and the music additions between chapters are really lovely, but it loses a star for being abridged. There are a lot of beautiful and funny moments that are cut from this version that I was looking forward to hearing when I purchased. It’s a short enough book that I don’t understand why these cuts were made!

Great book

Really great narrator. Easy to listen and is very engaging. The storyline is nice. Interesting life and a couple of surprises. Highly recommend this easy read.