The Dawnchild

A journey towards Dawnland

Lonely seven-year-old Mignonette, known as Mig, follows the mysterious Dawnchild out of an unhappy home and towards Dawnland. Cruel Cousin Belinda and the Umpis are in pursuit. First published by Faber & Gwyer in 1926, Beryl Irving’s fantasy combines a child’s longing for happiness with a strange, sometimes frightening fairy world.

Inside this paperback

This edition presents the story in modern typesetting, with Beryl Irving’s original illustrations reproduced in black and white. It is a newly typeset edition, not a photographic facsimile of the 1926 pages.

• 279 pages on cream paper
• 156 × 234 mm, perfect-bound paperback with a matte cover
• Original illustrations reproduced in black and white

The colour artwork and optional animation shown on this website are previews of the original artwork and its animated interpretation; the paperback contains still, black-and-white illustrations.

A childhood favourite

In an interview about her childhood reading, children’s author Vivian French remembered The Dawnchild as “a truly amazing fantasy story”. Read the interview on Vivian French’s website. Her recollection concerns the original book.

Written and illustrated by Beryl Irving

Explore the story and Beryl’s drawings in the reading sample, or discover more of her books.