Puck of Pook's Hill (version 2) by Rudyard Kipling is a delightful collection of stories that blend history, mythology, and fantasy into a captivating narrative. The book follows two children, Dan and Una, who encounter Puck, a mischievous sprite who introduces them to various characters from England's past.

Kipling's writing is lyrical and evocative, transporting readers to different time periods and allowing them to experience the lives of ancient Britons, Roman soldiers, and Saxon warriors. The author's deep knowledge of history is apparent in his vivid descriptions of the landscape and customs of each era.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of the importance of storytelling and tradition in preserving cultural heritage. Through Puck's tales, Dan and Una come to understand the significance of the past in shaping the present and the future.

Overall, Puck of Pook's Hill (version 2) is a charming and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and fantasy. Kipling's masterful storytelling and rich character development make this book a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers of all ages.

Book Description:
'Puck of Pook's Hill' is a fantasy book by Rudyard Kipling, published in 1906, containing a series of short stories set in different periods of English history. It can count both as historical fantasy – since some of the stories told of the past have clear magical elements, and as contemporary fantasy – since it depicts a magical being active and practising his magic in the England of the early 1900s when the book was written.

The stories are all narrated to two children living near Burwash, in the area of Kipling's own house Bateman's, by people magically plucked out of history by the elf Puck, or told by Puck himself. (Puck, who refers to himself as "the oldest Old Thing in England", is better known as a character in William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream.) The genres of particular stories range from authentic historical novella (A Centurion of the Thirtieth, On the Great Wall) to children's fantasy (Dymchurch Flit). Each story is bracketed by a poem which relates in some manner to the theme or subject of the story.