Review: Stagdale 1-3
How about a trip between the Summer of 75' and the Autumn of 38' to a quaint remote english village for the story of a 12 year old Kathy and her connection to war fleeing refugee Max and the mystery theft of a stag head jewel in art as enchanting as a hot summer holidays day in the countryside? Welcome to Stagdale by Frances Castle.
Frances Castle is a London-based illustrator who has been working freelance since 2006 for the likes of The Guardian, Random House, The Independent, Imperial War Museum, British Heart Foundation, CBBC, the BBC and many more. In 2011, she founded her own record label, Clay Pipe Music, who create beautifully designed and illustrated CDs and LPs with a host of talented artists, including her own musical alter ego, The Hardy Tree. The Hardy Tree provides a beguiling soundtrack for each chapter of Stagdale, adding an extra dimension of enjoyment to an already enchanting reading experience. Fascinating Frances introduced ,we shall proceed.
So, let's start with the art. Frances Castle has a delightful dollish style in Stagdale that comes with an edge I can best describe as digital chalk lines full of charm. To enhance this art there is very clever use of colour with blocks of vibrancy or muted beige to depict the relevant era of the story's setting. These era appropriate palettes add a layer of authenticity to the art that helps in the wistful transportation to the quaint British countryside that the story creates. The other block use of colour to convey emotion works to great effect.
Art in this beautiful style is transportive in itself, every page a gentle pull to the titular village at its heart. The art doesn't stop at the visuals though. As mentioned Stagdale has its own soundtrack of Moogs based electronics. A heady combination that with Spring now upon us offers a tantalizing experience opportunity. This would be the series to be sat in your finest recliner with a nice brew, warming Spring sunshine illumination and enchanting transportive soundtrack spinning in the background. Escapism with opportunity for an experience.
On to the story, then. Stagdale is the story of two children living a generation apart but sharing the experience of being outsiders in a remote, averse to strangers, village. The three chapters spread the action between the Summer of 1975 and the arrival of Kathy to a cottage and the Autumn of 1938 when it was occupied by Berlin Jewish refugee Max.
Chapters 1 & 2 of Stagdale show the origins of each child in their journey and first impressions of Stagdale, and although each has very different experiences, the theme of isolation and being an outsider connects the two. Frances does a wonderful job of conveying the harrowing details of Max's journey in particular. The story is given an intriguing edge with its central mystery surrounding the theft of a village treasured stag head jewel.
This is added to with the tied-together story of the multi-generations of the Bloat family, a long-standing family with ties to the history of the village and who have caused problems for the children of past and present. Stagdale is a heart-touching tale of those trying to fit in and the challenges presented by a narrow-minded, close-knit community. There's also an interesting example of the reputation of a family name and how it often doesn't stand up to its own grandiose facade. Things are often not all they present to be.
For fans of mystery, harrowing experiences, 1975, world war two, Moog based soundtracks, clicky picturesque villages hiding a secret of missing jewellery tied to the scandal of its inhabitants and projected onto a refugee, indoor tennis, hidden diaries, baking bread and stories of being an outsider in beautiful dollish chalk-like edged art I'd highly recommend Stagdale.
To get you copy and for more on Frances the place to go is https://www.francescastle.com/stagdale or direct to Clay Pipe records site https://claypipemusic.greedbag.com/the-hardy-tree/ for that added bonus of musical accompaniment. You are sure to be delighted and given the best excuse for a complete escapism experience.
Review: 5/5 easily.
