A Kestrel for a Knave
by Barry Hinesliterary work· published 1968
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A Kestrel for a Knave is a novel by English author Barry Hines, published in 1968. Set in Barnsley England, the book follows Billy Casper, a young working-class boy troubled at home and at school, who finds and trains a kestrel whom he names "Kes". The book received a wider audience when it was adapted into the film Kes in 1969; Hines wrote the screenplay with director Ken Loach (credited as Kenneth Loach) and producer Tony Garnett. The film adaptation has since become regarded as one of the greatest of British films. Today, the novel is often used in Key Stage 4 assessment in the United Kingdom, as part of GCSE English courses. The novel's title is taken from a poem found in the Book of Saint Albans.
Adaptations (1)
A Kestrel for a Knave was adapted into a 1969 film.
Kes1969 · film · 111 min · dir. Ken Loach · IMDb ↗IMDb7.9100%Bullied at school and ignored and abused at home by his indifferent mother and older brother, Billy Casper, a 15-year-old working-class Yorkshire boy, tames and trains his pet kestrel falcon whom he names Kes. Helped and encouraged by his English teacher and his fellow students, Billy finally finds a positive purpose to his unhappy existence.
