The Silver Sword

A series of children's modern classic novels by renowned 20th century children's writers. All the titles in this series have the A Puffin Book logo, contemporary-style covers, and child-friendly endnotes.

THE SILVER SWORD by Ian Serraillier is an unforgettable World War II survival story. 
Although the silver sword was only a paper knife, it became the symbol of hope and courage which kept the Balicki children and their orphan friend Jan alive through the four years of occupation when they had to fend for themselves. And afterwards it inspired them to keep going on the exhausting and dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland, where they hoped to find their parents. 
Based on true accounts, this is a moving story of life during and after the Second World War.

Ian Serraillier (1912-1994), was a British novelist and poet. Born in London, he was educated at Brighton College, and took his degree at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He was best known for his children's books, especially The Silver Sword published in 1956. As well as children's novels and poetry, Serrailler produced his own retellings of classic tales, in prose and verse, including Beowulf, Chaucer and the Greek myths. Together with his wife Anne he founded the New Windmill Series in 1948, published by Heinemann Educational Books, which set out to provide inexpensive editions of good stories.

Although the silver sword was only a paper knife, it became the symbol of hope and courage which kept the Balicki children and their orphan friend Jan alive through the four years of occupation when they had to fend for themselves. And afterwards it inspired them to keep going on the exhausting and dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland, where they hoped to find their parents. 
Based on true accounts, this is a moving story of life during and after the Second World War.

A moving tale of survival, heroism and the courage of children, as Ruth, Edek and Bronia hunt for their parents across the battlefields of Europe

One of the great and enduring tales of survival, courage and hope. Ian Serrailler tells this extraordinary wartime story simply and directly, so that we feel the full force of its truth

As a child I was tremendously moved by Ian Serrailer's The Silver Sword; the combination of childhood heroism in a bleak and horrific environment left me with many questions about the dichotomy of good and evil, as well as the importance of loyal friendship

One of the most exciting books I've read for a long while

Old-fashioned storytelling about courage at its best

One of the most remarkable children's books since 1945

Oxford Companion to Children's Literature

So what makes these different to any other set of classics? In a moment of inspiration Random House had the bright idea of actually asking Key stage 2 children what extra ingredients they could add to make children want to read. And does it work? Well, put it this way...my 13-year-old daughter announced that she had to read a book over the summer holiday and, without any prompting, spotted The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas...and proceeded to read it! Now, if you knew my 13-year-old daughter, you would realise that this is quite remarkable. She reads texts, blogs and tags by the thousand - but this is the first book she has read since going to high school, so all hail Vintage Classics!

National Association for the Teaching of English

Ian Serraillier was born in London in 1912, the eldest of four children. When he was only six years old, Ian's father died, and as his mother was often not very well, he looked after his younger siblings, especially during their long summer holidays in Switzerland. After university, he became a teacher and a writer. When the Second World War broke out, Ian refused to fight, because he believed it is wrong to kill another person. Many people who believed this were sent to prison, but fortunately Ian was allowed to continue to teach. After the war, the newspapers were full of picture of the ruined cities of Europe, and the children who had been orphaned or made homeless by the war. Ian was determined to tell their story. Ruth, Edek, Jan and Bronia are all based on real children, and even the silver sword paper knife was real. Ian Serraillier wrote many children's books but The Silver Sword is his most famous and most beloved, and it has never been out of print.

Discover this amazing adventure story set in the Second World War 
 
 'If you meet Ruth or Edek or Bronia, you must tell them I'm going to Switzerland to find their mother. Tell them to follow as soon as they can’ 
 
Having lost their parents in the chaos of war, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are left alone to fend for themselves and hide from the Nazis amid the rubble and ruins of their city. They meet a ragged orphan boy, Jan, who treasures a paperknife - a silver sword - which was entrusted to him by an escaped prisoner of war. The three children realise that the escapee was their father, the silver sword a message that he is alive and searching for them. Together with Jan they begin a dangerous journey across the battlefields of Europe to find their parents. 
 
BACKSTORY: Read a letter from the author's daughter and find out about the amazing true stories that inspired The Silver Sword.

Based on true accounts, this is a powerful and unforgettable story of life during and after the Second World War. A true modern classic.

An unforgettable story of life during and after the Second World War, based on true accounts. For readers of The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Diary of Anne Frank. 
 
This is a story of many different things. 
 
Of a terrible war and an occupied land 
 
Of the Balicki children who are determined to survive 
 
Of a dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland 
 
Of a paper knife that gives them the courage to carry on when nearly all hope is lost. 
 
'I urge you to read this book as it will stay in your memory forever' Guardian 
 
'A true modern classic' Booktrust

Ian Serraillier (September 24, 1912 - November 28, 1994), was a British novelist and poet. Serraillier was best known for his children's books, especially the Silver Sword (Novel) (1956), a wartime adventure story which was adapted for television by the BBC in 1957 and again in 1971.

An unforgettable story of life during and after the Second World War, based on true accounts. For readers of The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Diary of Anne Frank. 
 
This is a story of many different things. 
 
Of a terrible war and an occupied land 
 
Of the Balicki children who are determined to survive 
 
Of a dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland 
 
Of a paper knife that gives them the courage to carry on when nearly all hope is lost. 
 
'I urge you to read this book as it will stay in your memory forever' Guardian 
 
'A true modern classic' Booktrust

Ian Serraillier

Sarah McDonald Hughes

Stephen Hoyle

Hester Cox

Full Cast

A BBC Radio full-cast dramatisation

A BBC radio full-cast dramatisation of Ian Serraillier’s classic wartime story. 
 
When the Germans march into Poland in 1941, the Balickis’ happy family life is shattered. With their parents taken away by Nazis, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are forced to fend for themselves in the dangerous, war-ravaged city of Warsaw. 
 
When Edek is captured too, the girls are desperate. Then they meet orphaned street urchin Jan, who carries with him a talisman of hope: a silver sword paperknife that they recognise as having belonged to their mother. 
 
Realising that their parents may still be alive, Ruth and Bronia set off on an epic journey to Switzerland to search for them. With Jan by their side, they are determined to reunite the family – and their first step is to find Edek. But the road ahead is full of danger and hardship, and they will facemany challenges along the way... 
 
This moving story of friendship, courage and solidarity brings to life the reality of a Europe laid waste by war. 
 
Cast: 
Ruth - Sarah McDonald Hughes 
Edek - Stephen Hoyle 
Bronia - Hester Cox 
Jan - Aqib Khan 
Margaret/Irka/Mrs Wolff - Maggie Fox 
Joseph/German 1/Mr Wolff - Malcolm Raeburn 
Ivan - David Fleeshman 
Soldier/American GI - Andrew Blake 
Doctor - Lloyd Peters 
Cook/Mrs Borowicz - Szilvi Naray Davey 
The Burgomaster/Captain Malinowski - Jonathan Keeble 
 
Adapted by Chris Wallis. 
Produced and directed by Charlotte Riches.

Ian Serraillier

Books by Ian Serraillier

Series by Ian Serraillier

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