Denys Watkins-Pitchford (1905–1990)

Three brothers, looked after by their maiden aunt during the school holidays, while their parents are in Burma defending the British Empire, decide to escape to the woods (the Chase, a Duke's lands) and live as outlaws rather than spending the autumn term in boarding school. They make their home in an ancient hollow oak tree, survive by hunting and fishing, and outwit the bumbling policeman Bunting and their tutor, the vicar, known as The Whiting. They also become friends of the old charcoal burner who lives alone (with his dog, hens and pigs) in the forest - Smokoe Joe - who teaches them as much as he can about forest lore, trapping, etc.
I particularly appreciated BB's knowledge of nature, and especially Smokoe's lesson about the trees, how they are like people, breathing, talking, communicating - very close to what is explained in many modern books about trees.

An adventure story for boys, who will probably find it very dated, but it entertained this old lady, too, despite all the killings of animals - though only for food and clothing..… (més)

I had a Folio Society edition but gave it away because Slightly Foxed published the sequel and another BB book.
I just re-read The Little Grey Men and enjoyed exploring the banks and waters of the Folly stream with Sneezewort, Baldmoney and later the one-legged Dodder who set off to search for their brother Cloudberry who went walkabout a year earlier. We meet the forest friends, Squirrel, owls, rabbits, kingfisher and other birds, including the stuck-up pheasants and woodland enemies such as the stoat and fox, and an ogre in the form of a gamekeeper. I'm a bit sad about the fox because I am fond of foxes and not of fox-hunting. There is enjoyment of Nature, the trees, plants and flowers, a visit from Pan, a lot of kindness and some cruelty and sadness, but such is life. The gnomes are affable and resourceful little fellows and I can imagine them living among the roots of one of the trees along the stream that runs past the end of my road. Just one thing puzzled me, the miraculous appearance of a frying pan after everything had been lost in a storm.
Now looking forward to reading the others.… (més)