The barbarous babes : $b Being the memoirs of Molly

Molly, a spirited ten‑year‑old, recounts her mischievous games with the younger Humphrey and the occasional intrusions of the littler siblings, Violet and Ted. Their play teeters between elaborate make‑believe tortures and the earnest attempts to follow a promise to their mother to be inclusive, turning everyday objects into theatrical props. Humphrey, who struggles with schoolwork after an early illness, compensates with whimsical inventions—like a red ink that bites through his copy‑book—while dreaming of a future as a doctor.

The narrative captures a Sunday that spirals from a quiet walk in moss‑covered woods to a lively church service, where hymns and the scent of wild roses awaken Molly’s grandiose ambitions of heroism. Yet, amid the clamor of imagined battles and the gentle admonitions of their governess, she confronts the ordinary challenges of childhood—discipline, boredom, and the tug of conscience. The memoir offers a vivid, witty glimpse into a world where imagination and reality constantly collide, inviting listeners to hear a child’s voice that is both mischievous and surprisingly reflective.