Coram Boy

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Coram Boy is a children's novel by Jamila Gavin. Published in 2000, it won Gavin a Whitbread Children's Book Award.[1]

[edit] Plot summary

The story follows a range of characters, from the rich Alexander Ashbrook to Toby, a young boy saved from an African slave ship, as their lives become closely involved with this true and tragic episode of British social history.
It is an epic adventure which sheds light on a hidden part of the eighteenth century, child cruelty. The benevolent Thomas Coram has recently opened a Foundling Hospital in London. Unscrupulous men, known as "Coram men", take advantage of the situation by promising desperate mothers to take their unwanted children to the hospital for a fee. Amongst these is a cruel man named Otis Gardner who drags along his retarded son, Meshak. Meshak is desperate to escape to the world of angels who he believe tell him "not yet". His story intertwines with that of Alexander Ashbrook and his friend Thomas Ledbury. The two boys are avid fans of music and have a great talent for singing, particularly Alexander. Although Thomas is from a poor family, he spends his holidays at Ashbrook, Alexander's home. Here he meets Isobel, Edward and Alice, Alexander's siblings, and Melissa Milcote, the pretty daughter of Isobel's governess. Alexander's father does not approve of his ambition to follow music and disinherits him. Alexander has intercourse with Melissa and promises to marry her before running away. Meshak has noticed Melissa and believes she is "his angel". Thomas returns to the cathedral and meanwhile Melissa is pregnant, though she does not realise it until a servant tells her. She gives birth to a boy, whom her mother tells her is dead. However, Meshak takes the boy to the Coram hospital.

Part Two is set eight years later, following the story of Alexander and Melissa's son (who has been named Aaron by the hospital) and his African friend, Toby, both of whom want to find their parents.

[edit] Stage adaptation

Main article: Coram Boy (play)

The book was adapted for the stage by Helen Edmundson,with music by Adrian Sutton, and first played at the National Theatre in 2005,[2] also having a brief Broadway production in 2007.[3]

The play received a number of Tony Awards,[4] Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards[5] nominations, and a Theatre World Award for Xanthe Elbrick in 2007.[6]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ The Whitbread Book Awards past winners complete list. Costa Book Awards. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
  2. ^ Coram Boy. National Theatre (24 February 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
  3. ^ Andrew Gans (27 May 2007). Blue Boy: Coram Boy Closes on Broadway May 27. Playbill. Retrieved on 2007-05-31.
  4. ^ Coram Boy Awards. Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
  5. ^ Outer Critics Circle Awards 2006-2007. Outer Critics Circle. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
  6. ^ Ernio Hernandez (22 May 2007). Fantasia Barrino and Bill Nighy Among Winners of Theatre World Awards. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
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