| Oswald Bastable | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Oswald Bastable |
|
First Appearance |
The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899) |
|
Original Publisher |
T. Fisher Unwin |
|
Created by |
Edith Nesbit |
Origin[]
Oswald Bastable is the eldest son of the Bastable children in Edith Nesbit's series of children's novels, including The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899), The Wouldbegoods (1901), and New Treasure Seekers (1904).
He serves as the narrator of these stories, often attempting to conceal his identity but inadvertently revealing it through his self-praise and detailed accounts providing insight into the imaginative and sometimes mischievous endeavors of his as they seek to restore their family's fortune.
Oswald is characterized by his sense of fairness, generosity, and a strong inclination towards adventure. He portrays himself as insightful, considerate, and possessing superior ideas compared to his siblings. Despite this self-aggrandizement, Oswald is depicted as fair-minded, a peacemaker within the family, and generous in sharing rewards and possessions. He values politeness and believes that his behavior reflects on his parents.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Public Domain Literature[]
- The Story of the Treasure Seekers (1899)
- The Wouldbegoods (1901)
- The Red House (1902) (cameo)
- New Treasure Seekers (1904)
- Oswald Bastable and Others (1905)
- An Object of Value and Virtue
- The Runaways
- The Arsenicators: A Tale of Crime
- The Enchanceried House
Notes[]
- Oswald Bastable would later be adopted by sci-fi and fantasy writer Michael Moorcock for his trilogy of steampunk novels, beginning with The Warlord of the Air.
- Oswald served as one of the inspirations for J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter. Him and his siblings' exploits are even acknowledged in the first entry of C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia.