In this conclusion to the Psammead Trilogy, Cyril, Anthea, Robert, and Jane are reunited with the cantankerous Sand-fairy. While the old creature can't grant them wishes anymore, it points them towards an old Egyptian amulet that can grant their hearts' desire-in this case the return of their parents and baby brother. While their amulet is only half of a whole, it still acts as a time portal which they use to visit locales like Ancient Egypt, Babylon, Atlantis, and even a utopian future in search of the missing other half.
Perhaps one of E. Nesbit's most personal works, The Story of the Amulet benefited from her interest in the ancient world, particularly Egypt. With the help of A. E. Wallis Budge-then Head of the Assyrian Departments of the British Museum and translator of the Egyptian Book of the Dead-she conducted extensive research. The titular amulet is shaped after the tyet, an Egyptian symbol also known as the "knot of Isis."
A staunch supporter of democratic socialism and a founding member of the Fabian Society, E. Nesbit cultivated friendships with other like-minded writers, such as George Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells, whose influence on this book is easy to notice.
These political beliefs are prominently displayed in the book. The children encounter memorable characters during their adventures, chief among them the Queen of Babylon, who causes quite a stir when she later pays them a call in their contemporary London.
The book's legacy can be found in the works of other writers. Most notably, C. S. Lewis incorporated several elements in his Chronicles of Narnia. The format of these stories is an uncanny precursor to the popular British TV series Doctor Who.
Perfect for readers who love classic British fantasy adventures and tales of sibling bonds tested by magical quests! E. Nesbit's masterful conclusion to the beloved Psammead Trilogy delivers thrilling time-travel escapades through history's greatest civilizations, where four determined children must solve the ultimate puzzle to reunite their family. This enchanting tale of courage, cleverness, and the power of hope will captivate both young readers discovering it for the first time and adults revisiting this timeless gem.
