I Capture the Castle

Brief Overview

"I Capture the Castle" is a novel by British author Dodie Smith, first published in 1948. It tells the story of a teenager named Cassandra Mortmain, who lives with her family in a dilapidated castle in 1930s England. Her father, once a successful writer, has been unable to finish a new book for years, leaving the family in dire straits. The Mortmains' lives change dramatically with the arrival of new American neighbors, brothers Simon and Neil Cotton, who own the castle Cassandra is enamored with. The story explores Cassandra's journey as a writer, her first love, and the complex family dynamics against the backdrop of her gradual farewell to childhood and coming of age.