It retains that same element of fun that authors like Roald Dahl have, but it is written in a completely different style to any other children’s fiction that I have read. Overall, for me The Iron Man will always be a childhood classic. Some would argue that this is where there imaginations should kick in and fill the gaps, but some of us want to have a little bit more information to play around with before we can make up our minds! Although they thoroughly enjoyed the plot and writing style, they felt that the book left too many questions unanswered at the end. Interestingly enough, the last group of children that I read this book with did not like this aspect of the book upon reflection. This might seem to be a lot to fit in just five chapters but The Iron Man was originally published in 1968 as The Iron Man: A Children’s Story in Five Nights and this explains why these unexpected twists and turns between chapters work so well. This creature threatened the existence of everyone the world over and the Iron Man is called upon to save the day. Then the story takes another spectacular twist with the addition of a second unusual being to the tale. A little boy called Hogarth becomes instrumental in the Iron Man’s capture and his future existence amongst the people. When he returns from his sojourn under the sea, he becomes a menace to the local farmers by eating all their machinery and any other pieces of metal that he can find. Not many children’s authors could write a whole chapter in this style and keep young minds interested.Īfter this exciting start The Iron Man’s escapades truly begin. Hughes adds his poetry flair to this dramatic opening scene by describing the ‘ wing singing through his iron fingers‘ and the cacophony of noise as the ‘ separate pieces tumble, bump, clang, down to the rocky beach far below.‘ This dramatic beginning is almost a multi-sensory experience and ensures that the mysterious character of the Iron Man interests the reader from the first chapter. We first meet the Iron Man as he jumps off a cliff. Part of the fun is the element of mystery that the author adds to the story. I have read The Iron Man several times now with different groups of children and it has never failed to disappoint. Tolkien’s children being too hyped up to sleep when I think of authors acting in this way. Like many famous authors, Hughes tested and trialled some of his material on the bedtime story scene. A friend recently showed me a youtube clip of Hughes reading from this book and describing how he used to tell bedtime stories to his children. The Iron Man is a children’s novel written by the famous poet Ted Hughes.

The iron man book ted hughes