44 pages 1 hour read

Dodie Smith

I Capture the Castle

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1948

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

I Capture the Castle is a young adult novel by Dodie Smith published in 1948, chronicling the fictional journal of 17-year-old aspiring author Cassandra Mortmain. Living in a decaying castle in Sussex, England, Cassandra documents her family's financial struggles and interactions with the wealthy Cotton brothers, leading to romantic entanglements and personal growth.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle receives widespread praise for its evocative prose and charming, coming-of-age narrative. Readers appreciate the vivid characterization and nostalgic, romantic setting. However, some criticize its slower pace and occasional predictability. Overall, it remains a beloved classic for its rich, immersive storytelling.

Who should read this

Who Should Read I Capture the Castle?

A reader who enjoys I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith will likely be captivated by coming-of-age stories, 1930s English settings, eccentric family dynamics, and romantic elements. Fans of Little Women and Pride and Prejudice would find this novel especially engaging due to its relatable heroine, Cassandra, and its blend of wit and pathos.

RecommendedReading Age

12-18years

Lexile Level

920L

Book Details

Genre

Classic Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Historical Fiction

Themes

Identity: Femininity

Life/Time: The Past

Relationships: Siblings

Topics

History: World