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Title: A Kid for Two Farthings

Author: Wolf Mankowitz

Narrator: Steve West

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-24-13

Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A six-year-old boy in the British immigrant community of Whitechapel believes he has discovered a unicorn for sale at the market. Though it looks to most people like a white goat with a bump on its head, young Joe is certain it will make the dreams of his friends and neighbors come true - a reunion with his father in Africa, a steam press for a tailor shop, a ring for a girlfriend. Others may be skeptical of the unicorns magic, but with enough effort, Joe believes he can make it all real.

Members Reviews:

A Kid for Two Farthings (book)

A Kid for Two Farthings is a charming story about a young boy and his neighbors living in a hard-scrabble neighborhood in London in the 1950s. The boy is told that a unicorn is a magical being that can grant wishes. When he sees a kid (a young goat) that has only one horn, he insists it's a unicorn and buys it for two farthings. Will his wishes come true? This lovely little story was made into an equally lovely film.

Occasionally sending money but more often bad news. Kadinsky dreams of owning a steam presser ...

A slice of life novella set in the Aldgate slum of London in the 1950s, as seen through the eyes of a six year old. Joe and his mother are boarders with elderly Mr Kandinsky, a trouser maker, along with Shmule, an up and coming wrestler. Joe's father is somewhere in Africa, occasionally sending money but more often bad news. Kandinsky dreams of owning a steam presser so he can stay in business. He makes up stories about unicorns and wishes which inspire Joe to purchase a pet goat from the market (convinced it is a unicorn) so that he can wish everyone into a better life.

The book uses a stream of consciousness approach. The book was also also made into a movie which brought Mankowitz into the film business. Mankowitz was also noteworthy for introducing Cubby Broccoli to Harry Saltzman who owned the film rights to Fleming's James Bond and he worked as a screenwriter (unaccredited) on Dr. No.

'He held...a piece of tattered string, and at the end of the string a small unicorn'

Whimsical little story set among the Jewish community of London's East End of the 30s. Vivid descriptions transport you to a very different world- the markets, the struggling clothing manufacturers, the wrestling matches...

The hero of the book, 6 year old Joe, lives with his mother (his father is away in Africa on unspecified business) over Mr Kandinsky's tailor shop. While his mother works at a milliner's, Joe spends most of his time with the tailor, and a bond grows between them.

Mr Kandinsky tells Joe about unicorns, a wonderful description combining magic and pragmatism:

'Every animal when it was made by the Almighty was given one extra-special present...But the unicorn got the most special present of all. He was given a magic horn...It could grant anybody's wish- straight off. And this horn consequently was worth Â10,000 cash on sight'.

So when Joe sees a unicorn (a small deformed goat) going for five bob, he has to have it.