The Gentle Heritage is one of those early 20th century books that has fallen out of favour because its moralising and religious themes are no longer fashionable. This is really a pity, because it’s actually a charming, delightful book, told with wit and imagination through the words of ‘Nell’, our small protagonist, still young enough to tell us: “It was when we were all quite nursery children, a long time ago; two years since at the very least.” Nell describes her siblings: bossy Patricia, the eldest, Bobby, her best friend and rival,  ‘tiresome’ Annis, and finally little Paul “who is sometimes very odd and obstinate”.  The children are the heart of the story, and they are so real, and engaging, that they easily carry what is, in essence, a very simple story indeed. The book begins with their trials with Nurse, who feels they don’t play as proper children should, preferring instead to hold meetings under the nursery room table, complete with ‘notices’ and ‘chairs’.  Their favourite topic for the meetings is the dreaded ‘Bogey’, …