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Two Weeks with the Queen
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Wikipedia article
'Two Weeks with the Queen' is a 1990 novel by Australian author Morris Gleitzman.[http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6246193 National Library of Australia - 'Two Weeks with the Queen' by Morris Gleitzman] It focuses on a boy named Colin Mudford, who is sent to live with relatives in England, while his brother is being treated for cancer.
Plot summary
Colin Mudford, a 12 year old Australian, is sent to stay with his uncle Bob, aunt Iris and cousin Alistair in London while his brother, Luke, is being treated for cancer. In England, Colin, wanting to ask the Queen for good doctors, attempts to break into Buckingham Palace with Alistair, only for them both to get caught by the police.
After an unsuccessful attempt to sneak into the best cancer hospital in London, Colin meets a Welshman named Ted, whose friend Griff is also suffering from cancer. Ted introduces Colin to one of England's leading cancer experts, who then contacts Luke's doctors in Sydney and confirms that the cancer which Luke has is terminal. Colin then attempts revenge on the doctors by slashing the tires on their cars, including Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar and Audi, only to be caught by Ted. Colin then storms back to Bob and Iris's house distraught, where Alistair gives Colin the idea that a possible cure may be found in South America.
Colin convinces Alistair to stow away with him on a cargo ship to South America the next day. However, when Colin admits that he slashed the tires of several doctors' cars and that Ted caught him, Alistair warns Colin that Ted could be blamed for this, so Colin delays their trip to South America. The next day, Colin visits Ted at his home, and finds that he has been badly injured. Ted tells him that he was attacked by people in the street who disliked him, because he is gay. He then confesses to Colin that Griff is actually his lover, who is dying of AIDS.
As Ted is unable to walk due to his injuries, Colin goes to the hospital on his behalf to meet Griff, bringing him a letter from Ted as well as Griff's favourite food, tangerines. After enjoying a conversation with Colin, Griff asks him to visit him again. After Griff is taken back to his ward by a nurse, Colin finds a spare wheelchair in the hospital which he gives to Ted to allow him to leave his house. Colin then takes Ted to the hospital to see Griff and the couple thank Colin for reuniting them. Several days later, after Ted has recovered, Colin goes to visit the couple in the hospital, only to learn that Griff has died.
When Alistair confesses to Iris his and Colin's plans to travel to South America, she punishes both boys, and the house is fortified against any escape attempts. When Colin decides to accept Luke's fate, he asks Iris to let him return to his family, but she forbids it, saying that any attempt to escape will not work because they will not allow him on the plane with his return ticket, unless he is seen off by an adult guardian.
The next morning, with much difficulty, Colin sneaks out of the house and meets Ted at the airport. Ted signs Colin's forms and they say their goodbyes. Iris catches Colin trying to escape and conflict is created; Alistair stands up to her, which forces Iris to see reason and let Colin go. Colin travels back to Sydney to see Luke, who wakes up, happy to see Colin.
Characters
'Colin Mudford': A 12-year-old Australian boy determined to convince a cancer expert to treat his younger brother. He is kind, friendly, and adventurous.
'Luke Mudford': Colin's 8-year-old brother who has terminal cancer. He is in Sydney for the entire novel, undergoing treatment.
'Alistair': Colin's shy 13-year-old English cousin. While Colin is in London, Alistair becomes involved with Colin's ambitious schemes to find a cure for Luke's cancer.
'Aunty Iris': Colin's aunt and Alistair's overbearing mother. She is friendly toward Colin but is frightened that he is so open about Luke's cancer.
'The Queen': Elizabeth II is unconcerned about Luke's illness and does not respond to any of Colin's letters and requests. A liaison officer writes a letter to Colin on her behalf at the end of the book, which Colin leaves in an aeroplane's ashtray.
'Uncle Bob': Uncle Bob is Colin's grumpy uncle. He thinks lowly of the British Royal Family, as well as the City of London. He often joins his wife in telling their son, Alistair, what to do.
'Ted Caldicot': A gay Welshman who listens to Colin about Luke as his partner, Griff, has a similar issue. Contrasted with the other adults in the book Ted is characterized as warm and open, especially about cancer.
'Griff Price': Ted's partner of six years is being treated for AIDS-related cancer in the hospital. His favourite food is tangerines.
Notability
'Two Weeks with the Queen' was published during a time of change in Australia, particularly economic and political change. When Treasurer Paul Keating announced the recession on 29 November the economic struggles of average families are described in the early chapters of the book, such as when Colin's parents cannot afford to buy him a Christmas gift that he wants, and instead give him something that he needs sensible school shoes, which go unappreciated.
AIDS was a growing concern in Australia. 'Two Weeks with the Queen' was published three years after the prominent "Grim Reaper" public service announcements. Although the novel presents a gay man with a partner dying of the disease, it humanises Ted and presents his plight as very real, significant, and similar to Colin's struggle with his brother's illness.
The first hospital for sufferers of AIDS was opened by Princess Diana in July 1989, her hands on approach contrasting vastly, with the absence in the text of the Queen.
Themes
Gleitzman depicts the denial and anger that accompany grief, portraying Colin's egocentricity, spunk, and pain compassionately and without condescension. Neatly tied together by the incidents involving the Queen, this mixture of genuine emotion and humor makes for an engaging story that is said to have broad appeal.
Adaptation for theatre
The book was adapted for the stage by Mary Morris in April 1992, and premired at the Sydney Festival in the same year. Directed by Wayne Harrison, it received praise from its first performances, and has since been shown throughout the world, including England, Canada, Japan, the United States, Cuba, and Portugal.
Reception
'Two Weeks with the Queen' won the Family Award in 1990.
Todd Morning, reviewing the book for 'School Library Journal', describes Colin as "incredibly feisty and brave", and criticises the book's "breakneck" pace, stating that this made it difficult to get to know Colin. Reviewers for the 'School Library Journal' described Gleitzman's pacing in the audiobook as "wonderful", showing Colin's growing maturity.Mandell, Phyllis Levy, and B. Allison Gray. "Two Weeks with the Queen". 'School Library Journal' 53.3 (2007): 84. 14 February 2015.
Stephens regards 'Two Weeks with the Queen' as being unusual in contemporary Australian children's literature because Colin is presented as having agency he is capable of making decisions and taking action to change the world around him even though he does not do so in the way he first intended.Stephens, J. (2003). Editor's introduction: "Always facing the issues preoccupations in Australian children's literature." 'The Lion and the Unicorn', 27(2), 13. Retrieved from [https://search.proquest.com/docview/221759472 here] Maya Sen, writing for 'The Canberra Times', praises Colin's determination and character development, and enjoyed the book's humour and direct treatment of its themes.
When the play was performed in the United Kingdom, according to Gleitzman, the Australian Republican themes of the play proved controversial.
References
Further reading
* "Aussies Eye Top Book Prize" in Illawarra Mercury , 13 October 2010 p. 15
* Untitled review by Elizabeth McCardell in 'Reading Time : The Journal of the Children's Book Council of Australia', vol. 34 no. 3 1990; (p. 23)
* Untitled review by Jo Goodman in 'Magpies : Talking About Books for Children' , vol. 5 no. 4 September 1990 p. 32
* "Natural Comic Tells It as It Is" by Suzanne Fleming in 'The Newcastle Herald', 21 April 1990 p. 12
* "Tasty Trio of Original Delights" by Helen Elliott in 'The Australian Magazine', 56 May 1990 p. 8
* "Treading a Fine Line : Morris Gleitzman's Provocative Fiction" by Jeri Kroll in 'Something to Crow About : New Perspectives in Literature for Young People', Wagga Wagga: Charles Sturt University Centre for Information Studies, 1999 pp. 157170
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Category:1990 novels
Category:Australian children's novels
Category:Novels by Morris Gleitzman
Category:Novels with gay themes
Category:LGBT-related children's novels
Category:Novels about cancer
Category:Novels about HIV/AIDS
Category:1990 children's books
Category:Pan Books books
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