The Borrowers Afield

The Borrowers Afield

First edition (UK)
Author	Mary Norton
Illustrator	Diana L. Stanley (UK) Beth and Joe Krush (US)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Series	The Borrowers
Genre	Fantasy children's novel
Published	1955 (J. M. Dent, UK; Harcourt, Brace, US)
Pages	193pp (UK); 215pp (US)
LC Class	PZ7.N8248 Bi 1955
Preceded by	The Borrowers
Followed by	The Borrowers Afloat

The Borrowers Afield is a children's fantasy novel by Mary Norton, published in 1955 by Dent in the UK and Harcourt in the US. It was the second of five books in a series that is usually called The Borrowers, inaugurated by The Borrowers in 1952.

Kate, looking at a cottage with her friend Mrs May, learns that the present tenant, Tom Goodenough, knows Arrietty Clock, a tiny "Borrower" also known to Mrs May's brother. Tom relates the troubles of Arrietty and her parents. Driven from their home in an old English house, unable to track down their relatives, they live in an old boot.

Spiller, a mysterious wild borrower, brings meat, and saves Arrietty from a dog attack. Although everything outdoors - cows, moths, field mice, cold weather - endangers their lives, they learn to survive in the wild. One night, gypsy Mild Eye finds his lost boot, and brings the Clocks back to his caravan. Tom and Spiller rescue the Clocks. In their new home with Tom, they find their long-lost relatives. In Tom, Arrietty finds a good friend and ally.