Children’s / Teenage fiction: Classic fiction

9026 products


  • Olympia Publishers Nessies a Myth

    1 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Olympia Publishers Mira Celebrates Diwali

    1 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    1 in stock

    £5.99

  • The Wind in the Willows

    Nosy Crow Ltd The Wind in the Willows

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisMeet Mole, Ratty, Toad and Badger in this timeless adventure that has enchanted generations of children.This beloved childhood classic by Kenneth Grahame is now available in a stunning gift book edition with dazzling new art.One spring day, Mole peers out from his underground home to find a marvellous world awaits him. As the seasons pass, he picnics on the riverbank with Ratty, accompanies Toad on a chaotic caravan adventure, and even braves the snowy depths of the fearsome Wild Wood in search of Badger. But when Toad's mischievous ways finally land him in trouble, can his friends come to his rescue and recapture Toad Hall from a gang of sneaky stoats and wheedling weasels?The hilarious and heart-warming adventures of Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad are brought to life for a new generation in this enchanting abridgement, accompanied by Kate Hindley's vibrant and appealing artwork.Discover more beautiful gift books in the Nosy Crow Classics range including The Secret Garden, Heidi, The Velveteen Rabbit, and Peter Pan.With sumptuous details including cloth binding, foil cover, full colour illustrations throughout, textured paper jacket, ribbon marker and head and tail bands.

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • The Railway Children

    Arcturus Publishing Ltd The Railway Children

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £6.23

  • Gulliver

    O'Brien Press Ltd Gulliver

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisLost in a land of small people, Gulliver has to learn their ways and avoid starving! Then he lands in a country of giants. A beautifully illustrated and energetic retelling of one of the world's favourite stories.

    2 in stock

    £11.39

  • Around the World in Eighty Days

    Arcturus Publishing Ltd Around the World in Eighty Days

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisAround the World in Eighty Days tells the story of Phileas Fogg of London and his French valet Passepartout, who attempt to journey the whole globe in 80 days to win a 20,000 bet. A thrilling tale of travel, this unabridged novel is perfect for children aged 8 and up.

    2 in stock

    £6.23

  • Grimm Fairy Tales (Legend Classics)

    Legend Press Ltd Grimm Fairy Tales (Legend Classics)

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisHow often when we are comfortable, we begin to long for something new!Welcome to the world of the Brothers Grimm: a world of heroes and villains, of a prince and his princess, of lives determined by healing spells and fatal curses.The stories collected here have formed the basis for some of our most beloved tales, including Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and more.The Legend Classics series:Around the World in Eighty DaysThe Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Importance of Being EarnestAlice''s Adventures in WonderlandThe MetamorphosisThe Railway ChildrenThe Hound of the BaskervillesFrankensteinWuthering HeightsThree Men in a BoatThe Time MachineLittle WomenAnne of Green GablesThe Jungle BookThe Yellow Wallpaper and Other StoriesDraculaA Study in ScarletLeaves of GrassThe Secret GardenThe War of the WorldsA Christmas CarolStrange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeHeart of DarknessThe Scarlet LetterThis Side of ParadiseOliver TwistThe Picture of Dorian GrayTreasure IslandThe Turn of the ScrewThe Adventures of Tom SawyerEmmaThe TrialA Selection of Short Stories by Edgar Allan PoeGrimm Fairy TalesThe AwakeningMrs DallowayGulliver's TravelsThe Castle of OtrantoSilas MarnerHard Times

    1 in stock

    £8.54

  • The National Gallery Masterpiece Classics: The

    Hachette Children's Group The National Gallery Masterpiece Classics: The

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisJoin Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad in their classic riverbank adventure. Produced in association with the UK's National Gallery, this handsome new hardback edition's dustjacket features Monet's The Water-Lily Pond from the National Gallery's collection, and includes expert notes on the art.Featuring the full original text of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, this beautiful edition is the perfect way to enjoy the story of Mole's friendship with the Water Rat and Badger, and Toad's outlandish escapades with motor cars.This volume is part of the Masterpiece Classics series from Welbeck, which includes The Jungle Books, Alice in Wonderland and A Christmas Carol.

    2 in stock

    £11.69

  • The National Gallery Masterpiece Classics: A

    Hachette Children's Group The National Gallery Masterpiece Classics: A

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisEnjoy the greatest Christmas story ever written in this handsome new gift volume. Produced in association with the UK's National Gallery, this new hardback edition's dustjacket features art from the National Gallery's collection, and includes expert notes on the art.This edition contains the full original text of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. When the miser Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by ghosts on Christmas Eve, he is given a chance to understand the meaning of Christmas in the past and present and perhaps change his fate for Christmases yet to come. A perennial favourite with adults and children alike, this story has become one of the most famous Christmas tales since its first publication in 1843.This volume is part of the Masterpiece Classics series from Welbeck, which includes The Jungle Books, Alice in Wonderland and The Wind in the Willows.

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Olympia Publishers The Unearthing

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • Olympia Publishers Ace Hawwok the Amplifying Star

    1 in stock

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • Olympia Publishers Family Lives Forever Memories Treasured Beyond

    1 in stock

    a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

    1 in stock

    £5.99

  • ManMan and the Tree of Memories

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC ManMan and the Tree of Memories

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WEEK JUNIOR''S BEST OLDER FICTION AWARD 2024Illustrated in vibrant full-colour, a story of dance, celebration, carnival and slavery, about a family understanding their past to change the future.Set in contemporary Notting Hill, Man-man and his friends are swept up in the exuberant preparations for carnival. But his mother is ill and even as he dances, he calls desperately to the Queen of Revels, as old as time to make her well again.Swept away with his best friend Kareem and sharp-tongued sister Panama, to a place in between, the Queen of Revels plunges Man-man into Africa''s past and reveals his family''s heritage. As they gather around the sacred Tree of Memories, he witnesses many slaves, captives whose pain and anguish and longing is held by the tree. Man-man understands how this is draining his mother and how he must help her back to the freedom stolen from his ancestors

    2 in stock

    £10.80

  • Arcturus Publishing Ltd The Secret Garden

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisMary Lennox is an unhappy and unloved little girl. After being orphaned, she is sent from India to live at her uncle''s gloomy manor house in Yorkshire and is determined to hate her new home. But after finding an old key in a flowerbed, she unlocks a hidden garden in the manor''s grounds. This enchanting wilderness begins to weave its spell on Mary and those around her. Frances Hodgson Burnett''s best-loved story is an English classic and guaranteed to enchant readers aged 8+.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

    Out of stock

    £999.99

  • Bobby's Surprise

    Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Bobby's Surprise

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • The witch and the moon

    Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers The witch and the moon

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £9.17

  • The Best of Friends

    Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers The Best of Friends

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • Olympia Publishers A Big Day For Ray

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Olympia Publishers Alivias Curly Hair

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • The Jungle Book

    Flame Tree Publishing The Jungle Book

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisLittle treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader. Also includes the Second Jungle Book. Arguably his best known work, Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book is a classic for the ages. First published in 1894, this collection of fables has captured the imagination of children for generations. Many of the stories follow the adventures of Mowgli, the ‘man-cub’ raised by wolves, and his companions Baloo the bear and Bagheera the panther as they explore the jungle and face off against foes such as the fearsome tiger Shere Khan. The FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library.

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • The Dark Horse: A Virago Modern Classic

    Little, Brown Book Group The Dark Horse: A Virago Modern Classic

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBy the author of Black Narcissus and The Diddakoi comes the moving tale of Dark Invader, a powerful racehorse. '[Godden's] distinctive, poised and unsentimental books have never lost a shred of their almost hypnotic appeal' ROSIE THOMAS, GUARDIAN 'One of our best and most captivating novelists' PHILIP HENSHER '[Godden has] a genius for storytelling' EVENING STANDARD'All horses can walk - some badly, some well, but to a few is given a gift of movement feline in its grace, a slouching, flowing continuous movement that is a joy to watch. Dark Invader strode in glorious rhythm, his great shoulders rolling, muscles rippling along his flanks under the satin skin.'In Calcutta, India, John Quillan cares for racehorses belonging to wealthy owners, and Mother Morag, who lives just down the road and leads a group of nuns working with Calcutta's poor, loves to watch these beautiful animals in action.Dark Invader is a beautifully bred racehorse, but after a disappointing first season he is sold in disgrace and shipped from England to Calcutta. With love and gentle handling, 'Darkie' wins the hearts of the people and becomes the firm favourite for India's most famous race, the Viceroy Cup. But three days before the race Dark Invader disappears. Can he be found before it is too late?Follow Dark Invader's journey, now available as a Virago Modern Classic.Trade Review[Godden's] distinctive, poised and unsentimental books have never lost a shred of their almost hypnotic appeal -- Rosie Thomas * Guardian *[Godden has] a genius for storytelling * Evening Standard *All [Godden's novels] have one important thing in common: They are beautifully and simply wrought by a woman of depth and sensitivity * Los Angeles Times *One of the greatest horse books ever written . . . Moving, and highly original -- Lauren St. John, author of The White GiraffeA moving and unusual story * Daily Telegraph *

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Black Beauty

    Alma Books Ltd Black Beauty

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisAfter a wonderful early life as a young colt on Farmer Gray's meadows, the stallion Black Beauty is sold to Squire Gordon of Birtwick Hall and joins the gentleman's stables. While his existence is no longer as carefree as before and he has to be trained by humans, he enjoys the company of the other horses there, such as the fiery Ginger and the kind Merrylegs. Unfortunately one day he is sold on to new owners, and a new chapter opens in his life, full of uncertainty, hardship and cruelty. Will Black Beauty ever make it back home, or reconnect with the people and horses that cared about him?Trade ReviewOne of the greatest books ever narrated by a horse, with a fine message: be kind to animals, and they'll be kind to you. -- Michael Morpurgo

    2 in stock

    £6.99

  • What Katy Did: Illustrated by Susan Hellard

    Alma Books Ltd What Katy Did: Illustrated by Susan Hellard

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisKaty, a twelve-year-old gangly tomboy, dreams of blossoming into a sophisticated young woman, capable of grand deeds and adventures. She is however prone to mischief, and leads her six siblings into various scrapes, much to the annoyance of her kindly father and domineering aunt. Her life is turned upside down by a terrible accident, which leaves her a bedridden invalid. Now she is forced to learn the virtues of patience, sacrifice and hopefulness, as she comes to terms with her disability. A heart-warming tale that has become a children's classic since its publication in 1872, Susan Coolidge's What Katy Did is a lesson in the value of good humour and perseverance against the odds for young readers. Beautifully illustrated by Susan Hellard, this is a poignant and timeless story that every child should read.

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Wind in the Willows

    Alma Books Ltd The Wind in the Willows

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisDepicting the adventures of Rat, Mole, Badger and the pretentious Mr Toad, The Wind in the Willows sees these four animals getting into all sorts of trouble as they wander along the river, through the Wild Wood and around the grand Toad Hall. Adapted for the stage by A.A. Milne as Toad of Toad Hall, and recreated for film and TV numerous times, Kenneth Grahame's tale has been an essential part of every English child's formative reading for over a century, with new generations of readers succumbing to its charm, wit and wonder.Trade ReviewA book that we all greatly loved and admired and read aloud or alone, over and over and over. -- Christopher Robin Milne

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • The Phoenix and the Carpet

    Alma Books Ltd The Phoenix and the Carpet

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen Cyril, Anthea, Robert and Jane accidentally destroy a carpet in their London home with fi reworks, their parents replace it with a second-hand one. Upon unfurling it, the children fi nd an egg inside, and, when one of them accidentally drops it into the fi re, it hatches into a magical golden phoenix, who tells them that he can take them on the carpet to any location they wish. This revelation sets the siblings - and their baby brother Lamb - off on wild adventures, taking them around London and to far-fl ung destinations such as India and a remote tropical island. After the success of Five Children and It, E. Nesbit decided to recast its much-loved characters in this sequel, which has now become a classic in its own right, enchanting generations of readers and inspiring many fi lm and television adaptations.Trade ReviewNo childhood is complete without The Railway Children. * The Telegraph *

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • Tales from Shakespeare: Deluxe Edition with

    Alma Books Ltd Tales from Shakespeare: Deluxe Edition with

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn 1807, Charles Lamb and his sister Mary wrote a collection of stories retelling twenty of Shakespeare’s plays for children. While making sure that the pieces were accessible for a younger audience, they took care to stay faithful to the language and vocabulary of the Bard as much as possible. Ranging from the high drama of Romeo and Juliet to the delightful fancy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the humour of As You Like it, this collection of vivid adaptations – here presented in a lavish new edition – has been a much loved children’s classic for more than two hundred years, offering budding readers an accessible route to Shakespeare’s works.

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • The Silver Skates

    Alma Books Ltd The Silver Skates

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAs their father is sick, Hans Brinker and his younger sister Gretel must work to support their family. Despite this life of poverty, they long to take part in the annual ice-skating races on the frozen canal, where the victors win magnifi cent silver skates. But how can they hope to enter the races - let alone win - when their skates are wooden and home-made? After meeting the famous surgeon Dr Boekman, and hearing that he might be able to cure their father, Hans doesn't hesitate in offering to pay for the necessary operation, although he has been saving up all his money to buy two pairs of swift steel skates. As the big day looms, can the children enter their respective races and win the longed-for prize?Trade ReviewJust as new and interesting as when it was first told. -- Frank R. Stockton

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Story of the Treasure Seekers: Illustrated by

    Alma Books Ltd The Story of the Treasure Seekers: Illustrated by

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisDora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel and Horace Octavius (“H.O.”) Bastable are desperate to help their widowed father to restore the family’s fortunes after his business fails. Their moneymaking schemes, from digging for treasure in their South-London garden to becoming highwaymen on Blackheath, mainly lead to a good deal of trouble, until one adventure promises to change everything…Trade ReviewI love E. Nesbit – I think she is great and I identify with the way that she writes. Her children are very real children and she was quite a groundbreaker in her day. -- J.K. Rowling

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Red Badge of Courage

    Alma Books Ltd The Red Badge of Courage

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn a cold morning, at daybreak, the 304th New York Regiment is waiting to engage with the Confederate army. Among the soldiers is young Henry Fleming, who has enlisted against his mother’s wishes and is now shaken by a sense of fear and regret at the prospect of battle. But when the confrontation begins and, fearing for his life, he escapes from the field, other feelings – above all guilt and shame for deserting and for having retreated without a wound – pierce his heart and eventually force him back into the fray. Although its author never experienced the horrors of the Civil War at first hand, The Red Badge of Courage has often been praised for its realism and the authenticity of its settings and battle scenes, as well as for the nuanced psychology of its protagonist’s internal struggles. Hailed as one of the greatest American novels ever written, it is as fresh today as it was when it was first published over a century ago.Trade Review"The Red Badge of Courage is not a conventional historical novel. Its texture is cinematic; at the same time, breaking the rules, it eschews all reference to time and place." - The Guardian

    2 in stock

    £5.99

  • Not Bad For A Bad Lad: a story of friendship,

    Bonnier Books Ltd Not Bad For A Bad Lad: a story of friendship,

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA powerful and inspiring tale of redemption from the author of WAR HORSE - with a personal introduction to the story from Michael Morpurgo."I know a good sort when I see one. That's why I've taken him on. That's why I took you on."When a young lad strays into bad behaviour and thieving, he soon finds himself in Borstal prison for young men, lonely and without hope. But when Mr Alfie, who manages the stables, asks him to care for and tame a damaged horse, both are given a second chance.Could this "bad lad"'s skill with horses help him follow his dreams?Includes a fascinating "Facts Behind the Story" section.

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Cyfres Storïau Cyntaf: Belle a'r Bwystfil

    Rily Publications Ltd Cyfres Storïau Cyntaf: Belle a'r Bwystfil

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA Welsh adaptation of First Stories: Beauty and the Beast, suitable for young children. The push, pull and turn mechanisms bring the story to life to reveal favourite scenes as Beauty joins the scary Beast in his mysterious castle.

    1 in stock

    £7.60

  • A Little Princess

    Wordsworth Editions Ltd A Little Princess

    Book SynopsisMotherless Sara Crewe was sent home from India to school at Miss Minchin's. Her father was immensely rich and she became ‘show pupil’ - a little princess. Then her father dies and his wealth disappears, and Sara has to learn to cope with her changed circumstances. Her strong character enables her to fight successfully against her new-found poverty and the scorn of her fellows.

    £6.23

  • The Scarlet Pimpernel

    Everyman The Scarlet Pimpernel

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe exotically named Baroness Orczy was the daughter of a Hungarian aristocrat who came to London at the age of fifteen. first published in 1905, her historical novel The Scarlet Pimpernel became almost as famous as the French Revolution itself. It tells of the escapades of Sir Percy Blakeney, whose mission is to help the innocent victims of the Reign of Terror escape the guillotine. Assuming ever more daring and ingenious disguises he suceeds in both outwitting his opponents and in keeping his activities a secret from his English friends. Everyman's Library Children's Classics publishes the novel in a new and up-to-date edition to tie in with the BBC production to be screened this Christmas.

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • Just So Stories

    Everyman Just So Stories

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisKipling's own drawings, with their long, funny captions, illustrate his hilarious explanations of How the Camel Got His Hump, How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin, How the Armadillo Happened, and other animal How's. He began inventing these stories in his American wife's hometown of Brattleboro, Vermont, to amuse his eldest daughter--and they have served ever since as a source of laughter for children everywhere.

    3 in stock

    £11.69

  • Everyman Aladdin: and Other Tales From The Arabian Nights

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom the Eastern folk tales that make up the vast collection known as THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS certain stories - of Aladdin, Sindbad and Ali Baba - have become everlasting favourites with children and a magical ingredient of Christmas pantomine. First introduced to Europe in the early eighteenth century by the French orientalist, Antione Galland, who translated and bowdlerized the stories to suit contemporary taste, this edition presents the fourteen best-known tales selected from an English text of 1821. The illustrations are reproduced from a larger collection in 1899. William Heath Robinson then at the start of his career, was commissioned with four others and his drawings (much the best) reveal a gentle, romantic charm that has been forgotten in the success of his later, purely comic work.

    1 in stock

    £11.25

  • Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes

    Everyman Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisEvery child's bookshelf should start with a collection of nursery rhymes so that these fantastic and nonsensical verses (some so old their meaning is long forgotten) are among the first magical words to sound in a child's ear. This collection of over two hundred rhymes was assembled in 1903 with the family in mind ('Tradition in the nursery has acted as a severe editor'). and each page is illustrated each verse decorated, with the imcomparable drawing of Charles Robinson.

    1 in stock

    £11.69

  • The Adventures Of Robin Hood

    Everyman The Adventures Of Robin Hood

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe story of Robin Hood, said Roger Lancelyn Green can never die, nor cease to fire the imagination. Like the old fairy tales it must be told and told again, for it is touched with enchantment. Placing his hero's legendary history in the reign of Richard I of England. Roger Lancelyn Green has used as his sources the ballads, romances and plays, as well as the literary retellings of Noyes, Tennyson, Peacock and Scott. In this literary mosiac he has brought to life a character who is the archetypal outlaw and popular champion of the poor. Walter Crane, one of the masters of children's book illustration, created the drawing for a retelling of the Robin Hood story by Henry Gilbert. published in 1912.

    2 in stock

    £12.34

  • Mudiad Meithrin Dy Wallt yw dy Goron

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £10.24

  • Just William At Christmas

    Canongate Books Just William At Christmas

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn this collection of six full-length Christmas stories we encounter the irrepressible William Brown as an unlikely carol-singer, a pantomime-bear, Arab chief and conjurer. And between being mistaken for a Martian and becoming a burglar, William provides his family, friends (and many assorted aunts) with a Christmas they'll never forget. Neither will you...As William himself would say, 'Happy list'nin'!'

    1 in stock

    £19.71

  • Great Expectations

    Real Reads Great Expectations

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisPride, humility, love, loyalty and shame compete for Pip’s emotions. Will his quest to become a gentleman enable him to melt the cold heart of the beautiful Estella, or will it destroy his happiness? Pip’s tale is full of mystery and surprises. What is the nature of Miss Havisham’s interest in him? Why does Estella want to break his heart? Why does the dangerous convict return? Most importantly, who has given Pip his great expectations?Trade ReviewAt a recent department meeting, it became evident that Dickens is an author who can divide a room. ‘Let’s teach some Dickens at key stage three,’ some argued. ‘I can’t imagine anything worse,’ others said. ‘Too difficult’, ‘too wordy’, ‘enough to put anyone off’. ‘But the stories are great,’ I argued. It’s easy to see both sides of the argument. As someone who has dipped in and out of Dickens over the years, I have always been delighted by the actual reading of the novel, but sometimes it has taken a considerable effort of will to start the thing. Many are long, all are complex, and there is some truth in the assertion that they are too difficult—not for all, certainly, but for some children at key stage three, Dickens could sound the death knell for reading pleasure. There is a case, then, for a differentiated Dickens, and here, as with other literary classics, Real Reads provides a helpful solution. The series currently includes nine of the major novels: Bleak House, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Hard Times, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, The Old Curiosity Shop, A Tale of Two Cities and Little Dorrit. All follow the same format—a couple of pages introducing the characters with some delightful illustrations by Karen Donnelly, forty-seven pages of narrative and a ‘Taking Things Further’ section at the back. Like other Real Reads, too, the novels are not designed to replace the originals, but to complement them. The publisher’s hope is that for some readers, the Real Reads are a springboard into the original texts; for others it is to broaden their range of cultural experience and introduce them to a world of wonderful plots and characters. What makes these retellings particularly appealing from a classroom point of view is that significant attention is paid to the language use characteristic of the authors. The novels are retold with some integrity to the original—that is that some of the cadence of Dickens is retained; that some of the vocabulary remains authentic, and that some of those seminal passages remain relatively unaltered. Take the opening of A Tale of Two Cities as an example, ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the season of wealth, it was the season of poverty. In short, it was a time very much like the present.’ In short, it is very much like the original. The retellings go some way to preserving Dickens’s characters and while there are of course casualties, the characters that remain are rounded and engaging. For Oliver we feel pity as he pleads with Sikes ‘P-p-p-please don’t make me steal,’ in the face of Sikes terrifying whisper ‘Quiet, vermin’. We long for Nancy to be saved by Mrs Maylie and feel the poignancy of her departure: ‘You must take Oliver to safety. I must return to my life.’ We sense the justice in Fagin’s wait for death ‘his face so distorted and pale, his eyes so bloodshot, that he already looked more dead than alive as he awaited his punishment.’ Of course, we also feel the delight and relief as ‘Oliver and Mr Brownlow walked hand in hand to their carriage.’ Some of Dickens’s humour is preserved: Mrs Joe is to be found bringing Pip up by hand and at the birth of David Copperfield, Peggotty’s ‘bosom swelled with such joy and pride that two buttons popped from her bodice and flew across the room.’ The heartbreak remains too: ‘As he wasted away over the next few days, Little Dorrit didn’t leave her father’s side. His spirit was like a maimed bird, able to think only of the place that had broken its wings. Finally, his spirit broke free of all earthly concerns. Little Dorrit wept bitterly. The ‘Filling in the Spaces’ section at the back of each book provides a helpful resource for teachers. Elements of the plot that have been omitted in order to contain the retelling in such a thin volume are listed here and can provide a useful point of departure to read some of the original text. There is some contextual material pertinent to the text, so for Little Dorrit we learn that Dickens’s father was sent to Marshalsea Prison when Dickens was twelve and for Hard Times we can read about the rise of steam power and the way in which machinery in factories gave rise to mass migration to cities. There is also a two-page section called ‘Food for thought’ that provides points for discussion, themes, style and symbols and would neatly help shape classroom discussion and activity. In The Old Curiosity Shop, for example, ‘Oscar Wilde said that Nell’s death makes the reader laugh, whereas critics in Dickens’ time were usually overcome by grief. Which is closer to your own reaction? Why?’ would lend itself very well to paired, group or whole-class debate. Thinking about how the symbols of fog, hands, light and shadow and city and countryside match the action in Bleak House immediately suggests ways in which pupils might track language against action as they read. At the lower end of the price range for class readers, the excellent and durable quality of the books presents a good investment at £4.99 RRP for individual texts. -- Jane Campion * Use in English *

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Wuthering Heights

    Real Reads Wuthering Heights

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisNelly Dean has spent her life serving the inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. She has quite a tale to tell. She wants to tell it to you. Nelly’s story is as wild and stormy as the moors on which it is set. She talks of haunting, hatred, love, grief and the desire for revenge. Her tale begins and ends with the mysterious Heathcliff. Where has this strange, silent boy come from? Will you fear him or pity him? What drives the adult Heathcliff to destroy others, even his own son, and to dig in dark graveyards? Is it love or vengeance, or both? This famous story of Heathcliff and Catherine will thrill you and chill you to the bone.

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Twelfth Night

    Real Reads Twelfth Night

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisAlone in a strange country where it isn’t safe to be a single girl, Viola disguises herself as a boy called Cesario and finds work as a servant. But dressing in boy’s clothes doesn’t stop Viola falling in love with a man – who is in love with someone else. Will she ever manage to win his love for herself? And who is this other young man that appears, looking so like Cesario? What confusion will result from his arrival? Perhaps Viola’s brother didn’t drown after all …

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Sign of the Four

    Real Reads Sign of the Four

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen Miss Mary Morstan is invited to meet a secretive stranger, she asks Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson to help her. Captain Morstan has disappeared from his hotel without a trace. Should Miss Morstan dare to hope that her father is still alive? What horrible scene awaits the famous detective and his friend when they break down the door to Bartholomew Sholto’s attic room? Who is the man with the wooden leg, and why is he so full of bitterness and hatred? Will Toby, the cleverest tracker dog in London, help Holmes and Watson solve one of their most difficult cases?

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Around the World in Eighty Days

    Real Reads Around the World in Eighty Days

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBreaking the well-established routine of his daily life, he immediately sets off for Dover with his astonished valet Passepartout. Passing through exotic lands and dangerous locations, they seize whatever transportation is at hand - whether train or elephant - overcoming set-backs and always racing against the clock.

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Great Gatsby

    Real Reads Great Gatsby

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisNick Carraway’s mysterious neighbour Gatsby gazes across the dark bay at a distant green light.

    1 in stock

    £6.99

  • Black Beauty

    Classic Comic Store Ltd Black Beauty

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £8.04

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    Classic Comic Store Ltd Hamlet

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    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

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  • Just So Stories

    Pan Macmillan Just So Stories

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisThese twelve magical tales tell, among other things, how the camel got his hump; the leopard his spots; the elephant his trunk; how the alphabet was made; and how a butterfly caused mayhem at the court of King Solomon. Rightfully considered one of the enduring classics of children's literature, Just So Stories is an enchanting collection that still delights and illuminates over a century after it was first published.Beautifully illustrated throughout by Kipling himself, this Macmillan Collector's Library edition also contains an afterword by editor Marcus Clapham.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

    4 in stock

    £10.44

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