The Golden Scarecrow

"Hugh Seymour” is the protagonist among a slew of characters appearing in this partly autobiographical 1915 collection of sketches. Meet Enery, Bim Rochester, Young John Scarlet, and other children living around a quiet old square in London. Hugh lives as a paying guest in various houses, noticing his lack of significance—and even more—that children seem to have no significance at all in the world of adulthood.

"Hugh Seymour" is the protagonist among a slew of characters appearing in this partly autobiographical 1915 collection of sketches. Meet Enery, Bim Rochester, Young John Scarlet, and other children living around a quiet old square in London. Hugh lives as a paying guest in various houses, noticing his lack of significance—and even more—that children seem to have no significance at all in the world of adulthood.

Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was born in Auckland, New Zealand. One of the bestselling writers of the 1920s and ’30s, he was also one of the most prolific authors of his time. His works include thirty-six novels, five volumes of short stories, and the screenplay for George Cukor’s film of David Copperfield.