The Runaways, Victor Canning

In a storm-lashed night, a young runaway and a cheetah escape their respective captors, leading to an unlikely intersection of their paths in the rugged English wild.

Content and Themes

The Runaways is an adventure novel narrating the story of Smiler, a fifteen-year-old boy wrongly accused of theft who flees a reformatory. Simultaneously, Yarra, a cheetah, escapes from a nearby wildlife park. The book follows their parallel journeys of survival. Central themes include freedom, the will to survive in both humans and animals, and the unexpected bond between two outcasts. While categorized as Young Adult fiction, it is noted for its mature, realistic prose and lack of sentimentality.

Historical Context

Originally published in 1972, this book is the first installment of a trilogy (followed by Flight of the Grey Goose and The Painted Tent). During the 1970s and 80s, there was a significant interest in nature-driven narratives and the tension between social systems and the wilderness. The 1975 Disney adaptation, titled The Runaway Steer (though plot-wise distinct), contributed to the story's international profile.

About the Author(s):

Victor Canning (1911–1986) was a prolific British writer, primarily recognized for his thrillers and espionage novels.

• Key Works: Beyond The Runaways, he wrote the acclaimed Rex Carver series and the novel The Rainbird Pattern, which Alfred Hitchcock adapted into the film Family Plot.
• Awards and Recognition: Canning was a 1973 nominee for the Gold Dagger Award by the Crime Writers' Association. His work is praised for its meticulous nature descriptions and tight plotting.

Media Reception

Upon release, critics such as those at The New York Times praised the book for its "superior quality of nature writing" and Canning's ability to convincingly portray the psychology of both the boy and the predator. The book is frequently compared to classics like Tarka the Otter due to its factual, observational style.

Product Information

• Title: The Runaways
• Author(s): Victor Canning
• Cover Design: Barrie Driscoll (illustration)
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• ISBN: 0140310452
• Language: English
• Binding: Paperback / Pocket
• Number of pages: 192
• Illustrations: No
• Edition: 1986
• Dimensions: 18.1 x 11.1 x 1.2 cm
• Weight: 120 grams
• Condition: Very good/neat copy
• EAN: 9780140310450
• Special features: 
• Categories: Children's Fiction, Adventure, Nature

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