Burning Bright (2007) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

• Jem Kellaway: Young boy that moves to London with his family.
• Margaret "Maggie" Butterfield: Befriends Jem, she's tough yet also vulnerable. The one credible, well developed character in the book. Street smart, saucy yet kind.
• Thomas Kellaway: Jem's father and he makes chairs
• Anne Kellaway: Jem's mother
• Margaret "Maisie" Kellaway: Jem's sister. She is two years older, but he feels the need to protect her.
• Dick Butterfield: Maggie's father - hangs out a lot in the bars always looking for quick money
• Bet Butterfield: Maggie's mother - she does laundry
• Charlie Butterfield: Maggie's older brother who is learning to be like their father
• William Blake: Printer/Engraver and neighbor to Jem
• Catherine "Kate" Blake: William's wife
• Mr. Smart: Driver that brings the Kellaway's to London
• Philip Astley: Owner of Astley's Circus
• John Astley: Philip's son. Does some riding stunts.
• Laura Devine: slack-rope artist for Astley's Circus
• Sam Kellaway: Jem's oldest brother. He stays behind and gets married.
• Lizzie Miller: Sam's wife

Quotes edit see section history

• “Bacon! Bacon at a time like this! Christ amighty, I'm ashamed to call you a Butterfield! How often have I told you, lad, about the importance of speed? We'll get nothing form this if we dawdle and grease our lips with bacon and let others get there before us! What is it about that idea that escape you lad? Tell me.”

  Dick Butterfield

• “The tension between contraries is what makes us ourselves. We have not just one, but the other too, mixing and clashing and sparking inside us. Not just light, but dark. Not jsut at peace, but at war. Not just innocent, but experienced. it is a lesson we could all do well to learn, to see all the world in a flower.”

  William Blake

• “Then let me teach you something. What you want is not worth half the value of what you've still got. Remember that.”

  Laura Devine

• “I'm going to fly out of here, pet. That's what I'm going to do.”

  Laura Devine

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• The tension between contraries is what makes us ourselves. We have not just one, but the other too, mixing and clashing and sparking inside us. Not just light, but dark. Not just at peace, but at war. Not just innocent, but experienced.”

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

• London, England
• Piddletrenthide: Located in Dorsetshire Village and this is where Jem's family is from.
• Dorsetshire Village
• Westminster Abbey
• Lambeth, England: Suburb where story takes place
• Piddle Valley
• Dublin
• Dorchester
• France
• Westminster Bridge Road
• Smithfield
• Cumberland Gardens
• Windsor
• Southwark
• Newgate
• Heaven
• Cut-throat Lane
• Soho
• Piddlehinton
• Piddletown

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Tracy Chevalier (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Not for younger readers, contains explicit scenes.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Tracy Chevalier: Author's website. Includes reading group guide, background, inspiration, Blake gallery, and more.

More Books Like This edit see section history