Very simply the main character of the story is entrusted a magical box, which he endeavours to hide from a "gang of crooks" who also have an interest in the dark arts and the powers of the box. Masefield charts the adventures of 12(ish) year old Kay Harker, and those "blessed Joneses" (Kay's words, not mine!) over the four days leading up to Christmas in 1935, setting a good vs evil story against the background of going swift and going small, adventures in prehistory, pagan mythology, cars that turn into aeroplanes, scrobbling, incompetant policemen, snowy landscapes and well stocked larders!

Christmassy, and yet slightly dark, and utterly exciting, I would suggest this story has certainly not aged and I will definately be reading it to my children every Christmas until they too can quote all the words and make a possit as well as I can!