Have you ever thought about the hundreds of tiny objects that mysteriously vanish all the time? If you have ever wondered about this inexplicable phenomenon, it's about time you got acquainted with the Borrowers.

'The borrowers' are an enchanting series of books created by Mary Norton. Born on December 10th, 1903 in London, England. She was raised in a sprawling Georgian manor house in Leighton Buzzard, in Bedfordshire. Being short sighted as a child, she often had to peer closely at every little object, and this gave her the idea of 'little people' living alongside humans, called 'borrowers'. She has used her home in Bedfordshire as a setting for the Borrowers stories, and her extraordinary imagination makes the Borrowers come alive in the novels.

The books tell us the story of a borrower family called Clock - Pod, Homily and their daughter Arrietty Clock, who belong to the small but proud race of the Borrowers. They live under the floorboard of the kitchen in an old manor house in Leighton Buzzard (Mary's childhood home), and are named after an ancient Grandfather Clock that guards the entrance to their homes. Arrietty has been brought up to believe that human 'beans' exist only to serve as means of living for the borrowers. Borrowing to them is a necessary act, and as Arrietty insists, they 'borrow only what is needed…unlike humans who kill each other for sport'. Secrecy is also of the utmost importance for the borrowers, and they must not be 'seen' at any cost. However, Arrietty has a strange fascination for human 'beans', and ends up conversing with a 'boy' of nine, which causes great havoc. This results in a series of adventures where the Clocks have to find another home for themselves. Arrietty relishes the adventure, as she is tired of living a life in hiding, and longs for open spaces. Homily, her mother seemingly crumbles under the strain of the 'Great Outdoors' but puts aside her fears in times of need.

Homily and Pod and worried about their daughter's penchant for human company, and are greatly dismayed when she talks to human 'beans' in secret. She comes in contact with many humans, some of whom she trusts, like young Tom Goodenough and her beloved Ms Menzies, but others like Mrs Driver, Mild Eye and the Platters are out to harm them. Only their resourcefulness and nerve helps them survive in spite of various threats, both human and non-human. The five 'Borrowers' books are 'The Borrowers', 'The Borrowers Afield', 'The Borrowers Afloat', 'The Borrowers Aloft' and 'The Borrowers Avenged' which includes a Borrowers story called 'Poor Stainless'. The books trace the journey of the Clocks through various adventures, in their efforts to find a perfect home for themselves. The Borrowers have also been captured on celluloid. It has been made into a series for British television and also a Hollywood movie starring Mark Williams and Celia Imrie, among others.  

Needless to say, 'The Borrowers' is one of the greatest children's classics ever written, but no age is too old to enjoy the magic of their little but huge world. The books have all the right ingredients that go into a gripping story - action, adventure, emotions, fantasy and a touch of something magical, which has enabled it to endure the passage of time. 'The Borrowers' remains a favorite of the young and young at heart, and a vital element of every library.

If you have already met the Borrowers, or are waiting to get acquainted, they will definitely capture your imagination and remain with you forever.          

Sadarchita Prasad 
Mount Carmel College