Traditional or cultural fiction and true stories, tales and retellings

Book SynopsisA KINGDOM AT RISK, A CROWN DIVIDED, A FAMILY DRENCHED IN BLOOD.Tessa Gratton''s debut epic adult fantasy, The Queens of Innis Lear, brings to life a world that hums with ancient magic, and characters as ruthless as the tides.The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.The king's three daughters battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for warTrade Review‘Tessa Gratton creates a beautiful world, one where there’s magic in the trees and water, and prophecies come from the stars … reminiscent of Angela Carter’s reworkings of classic fairytales’SFX ‘Powerful, poetic fantasy that will take hold of your heart’Ed McDonald, author of BLACKWING ‘I adore this – rich, epic, blood-soaked – a glorious and grand sweeping fantasy’Kate Elliott, author of THE POISONED BLADE ‘A gloriously symphonic, thematically rich variation on the story of the daughters of Lear. The danger of seeking certainty makes this a tale for our time; the power of truth and mercy makes it a tale for all times. Prepare to devour every word, for Innis Lear will consume you’Karen Lord, author of REDEMPTION IN INDIGO ‘Messy, beautiful, and dark, darker than Shakespeare could have dreamed’E. K. Johnston, author of STAR WARS: AHSOKA

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Book SynopsisPART ONE OF THE TROY QUARTETBringing ancient myth to life with passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there.When the mortal Paris settles a contest between the gods, he is promised the love of Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world.But Helen is already married, to the powerful Menelaus of Sparta, and the kings of many cities have sworn to defend their union. Paris's divine gift threatens to set his world aflame.An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire'Mary Beard1 A PRINCE OF TROY2 THE WAR AT TROY3 THE SPOILS OF TROY4 THE RETURN FROM TROYTrade Review‘An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire’Mary Beard, GUARDIAN ‘I’m awed by the web you’ve spun. Not only the beautiful complexities of it but the fine texture of the threads’Ted Hughes ‘A triumph of retelling the ancient story…a readable and freshened version that keeps one turning the pages’Alan Sillitoe ‘Wonderfully clear and dramatic’OBSERVER ‘Expertly handled, drawing on the best of this classic tale and shaping it into a riveting page-turner well-suited to our times’DAILY MAIL

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Book Synopsis*A TIMES CRIME CLUB PICK OF THE WEEK*This book had a bit of everything! Suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, a few crazy twistsa great whodunnit!' Reader review, ????Everyone in this town has a secret. But who holds the key to the loch?Twenty years ago, three young women disappeared, never to be found. The rumour to this day is that their bodies are still hidden deep within the murky Loch Aven.When Eleanor, Clio and Michaela find themselves rained out of a camping trip in the Scottish countryside, they have no option but to book the mysterious house nestled on the banks of the lake. But little do they know that history has a way of repeating itself.As secrets in the tightknit community begin to surface, and Michaela suddenly disappears, it becomes clear that something sinister is at play. And now it's a race against time to unravel the mystery before the dark waters claim their next victimA claustrophobic, eerie and atmospheric thriller perfect for fans of Lucy Foley and Sarah Trade Review Praise for Fran Dorricott: ‘A brilliant page-turner.’CLOSER ‘Charming, old-fashioned and eerily atmospheric.’ DAILY MAIL ‘A spooky rollercoaster of a book. A great set of interesting characters whose dark backstories reveal themselves as the story develops. Lots of twists and turns. I loved it. Highly recommended.’ SIMON McCLEAVE ‘Such a strong sense of place that you will be genuinely confused when you look up and realise you’re reading on a train and not on the bleak, isolated island that the author paints so vividly and beautifully.’ CAROLINE CORCORAN ‘Claustrophobic and eerie – it kept me guessing!’ NELL PATTISON ‘Creepy, tense and so, so atmospheric – The Lighthouse is a wonderfully satisfying story with layers and layers of suspicion and intrigue.’ ANDREA MARA ‘The Lighthouse has a claustrophobic atmosphere, mounting suspense and twists and turns that will keep you hooked. I couldn’t put it down.’ VICKI BRADLEY

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Book SynopsisAnne of Green Gables meets Diana Wynne Jones in this whimsical fantasy adventure perfect for teen readers.I don't know who you are, or why you need me, but you hurt her again and I will make you payAlice has lived in the forest on the fringes of Alder Vale ever since her parents abandoned her. Alone, exiled, and feared by all. All except Lily.Nature has always been Lily's tonic, and she never feels more alive than when she's amidst the trees. It was Alice who first called them the sisters of shadow, Lily the sunshine to her moonlight, for neither can exist without the other.But something is stirring beyond the mountains. Whispers of spectres stalking the moors, women of unfathomable power luring children into a cult that has haunted local lore for a generation.When Alice disappears, Lily knows she must rescue her or risk losing her forever.Because the rumours were true all alongExile.Monster.Witch.Here's what readers are saying:Hot freaking damn guys. Sisters of Shadow was so good! BeyTrade Review‘Hot freaking damn guys. Sisters of Shadow was so good! Beyond addicting. I honestly couldn't put the book down until I reached the very last page’ Alaina, NetGalley ‘Full of raw, dripping magic… characters that are complex, something that I would expect to come from V E Schwab… I cannot get it out of my head. I need more, MORE, from Livesey’ Dalton, NetGalley ‘I was hooked from the beginning’ Lara, NetGalley ‘This was a gripping read, full of love, friendship, working together to overcome fears and the battle of good vs evil… should definitely be added to your TBR’ Ronni, NetGalley ‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world the author created was brilliant and so immersive’ Amy, NetGalley ‘I suspect this book will have a certain Tik-Tok generation appeal… A gentle, whimsical fantasy story of best friends, first love and witches!’ Rebecca, NetGalley ‘The young adults in this book are so fierce and full of action’ Kelly, NetGalley ‘This book didn't disappoint’ Natàlia, NetGalley

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Book SynopsisLily, Alice, Grace, and Jem are back in the third and final spellbinding instalment in the Sisters of Shadow trilogy by Katherine Livesey!She couldn't work out if it was the world that had changed, or herselfWhen lightning shatters the darkness into a blazing jigsaw of panic and pain, Lily and her friends realise they've been transported through the jaws of the wild storm right to the gates of Midnight Manor, home of High Priestess of the Shadow Sect herself, Hecate Winter.But as a swarm of figures in hooded golden cloaks surrounds them it soon becomes clear: the real enemy was never hewn from the shadows but hidden in the light.A notorious legion of exorcists from beyond their borders, the Brotherhood of Light have been secretly abducting them for generations and indoctrinating them into believing there are good witches and bad witches, all subordinate to the whims of their oppressors.Now it's up to them to build a sisterhood strong enough to survive the sunrise.Readers have been captTrade Review‘Hot freaking damn guys. Sisters of Shadow was so good! Beyond addicting. I honestly couldn't put the book down until I reached the very last page’ Alaina, NetGalley ‘Full of raw, dripping magic… characters that are complex, something that I would expect to come from V E Schwab… I cannot get it out of my head. I need more, MORE, from Livesey’ Dalton, NetGalley ‘This was a gripping read, full of love, friendship, working together to overcome fears and the battle of good vs evil… should definitely be added to your TBR’ Ronni, NetGalley ‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The world the author created was brilliant and so immersive’ Amy, NetGalley ‘I suspect this book will have a certain Tik-Tok generation appeal… A gentle, whimsical fantasy story of best friends, first love and witches!’ Rebecca, NetGalley ‘The young adults in this book are so fierce and full of action’ Kelly, NetGalley ‘This book didn't disappoint’ Natàlia, NetGalley

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Book SynopsisAnimal tales full of folklore and magic, chosen for for children aged 7-11

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Book SynopsisTo the world you are an abomination; a monster with unholy abilities. You're shunned and left to fend for yourself. Your only chance of survival is to tap into that dark potential - would you do it?In an isolated mountain community, sometimes a child is born with two hearts. Such a child - a striga - is considered a dangerous demon, which must be abandoned on the edge of the forest to protect the community. The only choice the child's mother can make is whether to leave her home with her infant, or stay behind and try to forget.Miriat made her choice. She and her nineteen-year-old striga daughter, Salka, now live a life of deprivation and hardship in a remote village, where to follow the impulses of the other heart is forbidden.But Salka is headstrong and young, and when threatened with losing everything, she is forced to explore the depths of her true nature, testing the bonds between mother and child.File Under: Fantasy&Trade Review"Captivating, provocative and poignant – not to be missed.""This is well worth your time!”"a very personal story you won’t be able to stop thinking about long after the tale is told.""enchanting fairy tale with real-world themes.""Houston has gifted us with a folktale that is both mythically resonant and all too human.""This intimate fantasy offers a heartfelt reflection on what it means to be human that is sure to please.""a coming-of-age tale set in a lavishly detailed backdrop drawn from the writer’s native Slavic mythology""A fresh and provocative spin on the Slavic Stiga mythology, The Second Bell is a smart and complex journey into the meaning of family, community, nature and possibility. A gripping read and full of heart.”"Fans of mythical yarns and medieval fantasies will enjoy this easy-to-read fable.""A masterful tale.""A claustrophobic but very human tale of bad decisions rather than (totally) bad people."

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Book SynopsisWELCOME TO THE INCREDIBLE WORLD OF MILDRED!When a stranger arrived at Mildred's door, she had no idea of how her life was about to change. The secretive order she was encouraged to join had many secrets. Mildred was about to find out just how dark those secrets are.Trade Review"Picks Up Where Potter Left Off, All Of The Intrigue, All Of The Darkness Without A Wand In Sight!" - Amazon.com; "Couldn't put it down, a wonderful read. Beautifully written with laugh out loud moments and tension that sends your heart racing - a must read!" - Waterstones.com; "OUT OF THIS WORLD - A great read. I was totally captivated by the fantastic world introduced in this story. I would definitely recommend this book to all Potter lovers out there. If you're looking for suspense, great characters, and want to read at the edge of your seat, then this book is most certainly for you. A real page turner."Table of ContentsChapter One: Every Cat Has A Name 9 Chapter Two: Slippery At The Sway 21 Chapter Three: Fish Paste Sandwiches 31 Chapter Four: Mr. Franks Tardis Emporium 47 Chapter Five: The Nook At The Coach And Horses 57 Chapter Six: Drive Of The Navigator 65 Chapter Seven: Word Of The Order 75 Chapter Eight: The Curator And The Watched Garden 79 Chapter Nine: The Long Haired Man 89 Chapter Ten: The Passing Of Lady Tempest 93 Chapter Eleven: The Palm Of Duat 103 Chapter Twelve: Pale Hands Of Clerics 111 Chapter Thirteen: The Arrival Of Miss Fennaway 119 Chapter Fourteen: The Reeve's First Scroll 127 Chapter Fifteen: Lady Ebonee 135 Chapter Sixteen: Behind The Gate Of Raysmau 147 Chapter Seventeen: The Stone Stairs Of The Below 157 Chapter Eighteen: Indebted To Rats 167 Chapter Nineteen: The Drawing Of The Scatterblade 173 Chapter Twenty: Talking To Cats 185 Chapter Twenty One: Dr Belloch From Castle Hollow 195 Chapter Twenty Two: Clown Nose And The Sheep Diving Contest 205 Chapter Twenty Three: Actioning The Switcharoo 215 Chapter Twenty Four: The Great Statue Of Salma 227 Chapter Twenty Five: The Keys Of Inferious 243 Chapter Twenty Six: The Serpent's Wheel 261 Chapter Twenty Seven: Welcome To The Kat Club 285 Chapter Twenty Eight: The Clear Sky Above Rocke Road 313 Chapter Twenty Nine: Walls Of Volemon 343 Chapter Thirty: Flames At The Light Of Dawn 375 Chapter Thirty One: The Scarred Comet 405

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Book SynopsisFrom the No. 1 bestselling author of WAR LORD comes an epic retelling of the Arthurian legend, which is now a major television series on ITV. The all-star cast will include Iain De Caestecker, Stuart Campbell, Ellie James and Eddie Marsan.In the Dark Ages, a legendary warrior arises to unite a divided land . . .Uther, the High King of Britain, is dead.His only heir is the infant Mordred. Yet each of the country''s lesser kings seek to claim the crown for themselves.While they squabble and spoil for war, a host of Saxon armies gather, preparing for invasion.But no one has counted on the fearsome warlord Arthur.Handed power by Merlin and pursuing a doomed romance with the beautiful Guinevere, Arthur knows he will struggle to unite the country - let alone hold back the Saxon enemy at the gates.Yet destiny awaits him . . .Combining myth, history, and thrilling battlefield action, fans of Game of Thrones, The Last Kingdom, Conn Iggulden and Merlin will be captivated by this gripping epic.___________''Of all the books I have written these are my favourites'' Bernard Cornwell''Spellbinding realism'' The TimesTrade ReviewOf all the books I have written these are my favouritesThat every Cornwell novel is better than the last, devotees have long taken for granted * The Times Literary Supplement *Bernard Cornwell writes with gritty realism * Daily Telegraph *Spellbinding * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe calamities that befall the hapless creatures of Aesop's Fables! The fox can't reach his grapes, then gets attacked by biting flies and loses his tail in a trap. And things don't go much better for the hare, who is chased relentlessly by a hound, barely escaping with his lifeonly to be beaten in a race by a lowly tortoise. Misfortune turns to mayhem when a wolf is killed by his sweetheart's father, a sheepdog preys on his own flock, and the mouse and his friend the frog are eaten by a hawk. On the brighter side, a tiny ant saves her new friend the dove from a hunter's arrow, a bat persuades two different weasels not to eat her, and a kid goat uses his wits to escape from the jaws of a hungry wolf... For nearly three thousand years, the fables of Aesop have amused people of all ages as they provide commonsense lessons in the conduct of everyday life. The colorful characters and brief tales, by turns amusing and frightening, deliver a how-to course in applied moral philosophy. Thi

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Book Synopsis'A tangled, gnarled, wonderfully original, strange, beautiful beast of a book' DAISY JOHNSON, author of Everything Under'Beautiful and terrifying' SUNDAY TIMES'Seethingly assured debut fuses magical realism with critical and feminist theory' GUARDIANIn house in a wood, Ada and her father live peacefully, tending to their garden and the wildlife in it. They are not human though. Ada was made by her father from the Ground, a unique patch of earth with birthing and healing properties. Though perhaps he didn’t get her quite right. They spend their days healing the local human folk – named Cures - who visit them, suspiciously, with their ailments. When Ada embarks on a relationship with a local Cure named Samson, and is forced to choose between her old life with her father, and a new one with her human lover. Her decision will uproot the town – and the Ground itself – for ever.A poised and simmering tour-de-force, FOLLOW ME TO GROUND is a sinister vision of desire and freewill, voiced in earthy prose and eviscerating detail by an astoundingly original new writer.'Equal parts beauty and horror, and unlike anything you will read this year’ TEA OBREHT'Fierce, palpable, hynoptic. A dazzling, troubling dream' COLIN BARRETT'A writer to watch' METRO'An astonishing debut heralding the career of an exciting new writer. Strange, lyrical, and arresting, this novel will draw readers into its extraordinary spell.' KIRKUS starred review LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOT PRIZE 2019Trade ReviewSeethingly assured ... odd and muscular enough to resist easy interpretation. It can be read on many levels – as a fable about female yearning, or about containment and contagion; as an investigation into toxic relationships or a puzzle over the borders between human and non-human – but it is always singularly and entirely itself * GUARDIAN *Enthralling . . . Lyrical, dark and detailed, the story twists like a root, bent in one way by desire, in another by fate. * Daily Mail *Impressive . . . Rainsford is a writer to watch. * Metro *A tangled, gnarled, wonderfully original, strange, beautiful beast of a book * DAISY JOHNSON *Rainsford writes beautifully with a lyrical, earthy prose which is evocative and eviscerating yet mesmerising. She gives Ada a unique voice which fills and haunts the narrative. One of the strangest books I've read in a long time, it is utterly compelling and will linger, uninvited, in your consciousness long after you've turned the last page. * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisWhen Aladdin finds a magic lamp with a genie in it, all his problems are over! But a wicked magician wants the lamp, and he wants Aladdin’s girlfriend too . . . will three wishes be enough to get Aladdin out of trouble? Part of the beloved Fairytale Classics series.

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Book SynopsisPassed down through generations, these Fulani tales of love and djinns are collected here in the form of twenty-eight short stories. Transcribed and translated from the notes of Malum Amadu, a Fulani scribe who collected stories, songs, and spells, Amadu's Bundle brings together a long tradition of poetry and prose that have been told and retold over countless generations.

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating collection explores the history, culture, gods, calendar, myths and tales of the Aztec people, the Incas, the Mayans and other Mesoamerican and Central American peoples, from migration legends to the origin myth of the Five Suns. Though the Olmecs (1250–200 BCE) were the first civilization in Mexico, the Aztecs (1325–1521) were Mesoamerica’s last dominant indigenous civilization and often the one that is thought about, without understanding the region's rich diversity. Like the other Mesoamerican cultures, Aztec gods and myths reflected a natural philosophy where ideas concerning life and death were linked symbolically to the earth, sky and sea in a grand cosmic scheme. Their religion was dominated by the tribal war god Huitzilopochtli, the rain/fertility god Tlaloc and the supreme deity Tezcatlipoca, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. This collection brings together the stories and the history into a fine and collectable new volume in the Flame Tree Epic Tales series. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book SynopsisA man finds a bald patch on the back of his head that looks curiously like a face, then discovers he's splitting in two. A bored student suggests digging a tunnel into the foundations of the art school. An elderly man is healed by hundreds of tiny people working on repairs inside his own head.Unlikely Stories, Mostly is Alasdair Gray's first collection of short stories. Gloriously illustrated, darkly funny, and steeped in myth and fable, they capture Gray's singular imagination.Trade ReviewUnsettling, otherworldly . . . Not since William Blake has a British artist wed pictorial and literary talent to such powerful effect * * Financial Times * *His work is masterly . . . Temperamental radicalism, militant humanism and a number of recurring sexual, linguistic and aesthetic themes are woven together into a prose full of recondite allusions and brilliant innovations * * London Review of Books * *As you'd expect from a writer as talented as Gray, there are enough idiosyncratic pleasures knocking around to make the book well worth reading * * Independent * *A series of fantastical fables, showing the influence of Kafka, Swift and Johnson's Rasselas . . . Memorable * * Guardian * *A necessary genius -- ALI SMITHOne of the brightest intellectual and creative lights Scotland has known in modern times -- NICOLA STURGEONGray is a true original, a twentieth century William Blake * * Observer * *Too clever for its own good in parts, but otherwise a damned good read -- "Colonel Sebastian Moran * * Simla Times" * *This anthology may be likened to a vast architectural folly imblending the idioms of the Greek, Gothic, Oriental, Baroque, Scottish Baronial and Bauhaus schools. Like one who, absently sauntering the streets of Barcelona, suddenly beholds the breathtaking grandeur of Gaudi's Familia Sagrada, I am compelled to admire a display of power and intricacy whose precise purpose evades me. Is the structure haunted by a truth too exalted and ghostly to dwell in a plainer edifice? Perhaps. I wonder. I doubt -- "Lady Nicola Stewart, Countess of Dunfermline * * The Celtic Needlewoman" * *

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Book SynopsisThe first in a series of four titles based on the seasons, nature and folklore, The Lightbringers is a story of hope centring on the notion that the light will always return, even in the darkest of days.

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Book SynopsisTwilight Land is a captivating collection of enchanting fairy tales written by Howard Pyle, a renowned American author and illustrator. The book transports readers to a magical realm where captivating stories unfold, blending fantasy and adventure other one moral lessons.In this collection, Pyle weaves imaginative narratives filled with mystical creatures, talking animals, brave heroes, and wicked villains. Each tale is set in the wondrous Twilight Land, a place betwixt and between the realms of reality and dreams. The stories follow protagonists who embark on extraordinary quests, facing trials and tribulations that test their courage, wisdom, and virtue. Whether it is a prince rescuing a princess from an evil enchantment, or a humble woodcutter proving his worth through kindness, each character experiences transformation and growth. Pyle's storytelling is enriched with vivid descriptions and evocative illustrations, painting a vivid picture of Twilight Land's magical landscapes. Through captivating prose and engaging dialogues, he imparts valuable life lessons, emphasizing the importance of honor, kindness, and the pursuit of truth. Twilight Land remains a timeless treasure of children's literature, enchanting readers of all ages with its timeless tales of wonder and imagination. Howard Pyle's enduring legacy lies in his ability to create a world where fantasy and reality seamlessly intertwine, leaving readers spellbound and inspired by the enduring power of storytelling.

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Book SynopsisThe mythic invasions of Ireland, the mystical kingdoms, warriors, giants, creatures of the underworld and magic, these are the fantastic ingredients of Celtic legend. Because they told their own stories in the ancient way, by word of mouth, we understand the traditions of these proud people through the records of their mortal enemies, the Romans, but still they thrive, so bright and strong today. In these pages you’ll find stories of giants, ancient spells, ghosts and fairies, of sea-folk and tree-folk. All the main legends of the Irish invasions, the Ulster cycle and the Fenian cycle sit alongside the tales of the Mabinogion and the secret stories of Scottish folk and fairy tales. From the Tragedy of the Children of Lir to the Coming of Finn mac Cumail, The Fiddler of Gord to The Fox, the Wolf and the Butter you’ll discover an enchanting world from the past that connects to the landscapes and traditions of today. The latest title in Flame Tree's beautiful, comprehensive series of Gothic Fantasy titles, concentrates on the ancient, epic origins of modern fantasy in the myths and legends of the Celts.

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Book SynopsisMyths and legendary tales from around the world are packed with gigantic rivalries; gods, monsters and giants compete for supremacy over the land, the creatures within and the universe beyond. Zeus clashes with the all-powerful Typhon, Odin is destined to face the great wolf Fenrir during Ragnarok. And yet monsters such as the Minotaur, and giants of all kinds, dragons even, are monsters only to those too fearful to understand them, while others such as the Sirens, or the weird sisters, are malevolent without remorse. Such mythical gods and their foes, make great adventures for the modern reader tracing the roots of The Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings and The Witcher, where good and evil are morphed into real avatars and creatures of vivid imagination. In these pages you'll find the gods of the heavens and mountains, and the spirits and demons of the deep sea, the dark woods and the burning sands. From the gods of Babylon and Ancient Egypt to the Norse Aesir, from the pantheon of mighty Greek deities to the gods of the earth and the sky in Pacific legends, most of the great traditions are featured here, with monsters galore: Anansi the trickster spider, the chaos serpent Apep, the Wendigo (or Windegoo spirits), the Greek Sphinx, the drought demon dragon Vritra and the Chimera to name a few. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book SynopsisTHE NO.1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, AND COMPANION NOVEL TO AMERICAN GODS.HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TELEVISION SERIES JUST ANNOUNCED - COMING ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO.''Neil could never have known that he was writing for a confused Jamaican kid who, without even knowing it, was still staggering from centuries of erasure of his own gods and monsters'' MARLON JAMES''A warm, funny, immensely entertaining story about the impossibility of putting up with your relations - especially if they happen to be Gods'' SUSANNA CLARKE ''It''s virtually impossible to read more than ten words by Neil Gaiman and not wish he would tell you the rest of the story'' OBSERVER---''People think that funny and serious are mutually exclusives. They think they''re opposites, and that''s not actually true'' NEIL GAIMAN---Everything changes for Fat Charlie Nancy, the South London boy so called by his father, the Trade ReviewTo give him his full title: Neil Gaiman, Architect of Worlds, Svengali of Plot, Shaman of Character, Exploder of Cliche, Master Craftsman of Style, Dreamer, Laureate of the Republic of Letters -- David MitchellBeyond all the borders that divide us, there is a place of infinite possibilities and pure magic. I think of Neil Gaiman as a writer who wears the key to that land around his neck - the key to Storyland -- Elif ShafakGaiman is, simply put, a treasure-house of story -- Stephen KingA god in the universe of story -- Stephen FryA tonic for these turbulent times * Irish Times *Much too clever to be caught in the net of a single interpretation -- Philip PullmanIntimate, erudite and illuminating -- Guillermo del ToroWhile we might come to his writing for gods and monsters, actually all human life is here * Independent *A very fine and imaginative writer * The Times *'Gaiman has a rich imagination...and an ability to tackle large themes' * Philip Pullman *

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Book SynopsisNine powerful gods of ancient Egypt form the Ennead. When the god of war, Seth, kills his brother Osiris and takes over Egypt, he ushers in an era of chaos and cruelty. Centuries later, a new challenger appears: Horus, the child of Isis. Horus is not yet a full god, but he has the support of other deities to dethrone Seth. The conflict between Seth and Horus that begins as a series of trials warps into a complex web of deceit, obsession... and desire. This hit Boys’ Love webtoon - a dramatic fantasy epic - is a reimagining of one of the oldest myths in human civilisation. Already available in multiple languages to fans around the world, this is the very first time the graphic novel series will be printed in English, presented in beautiful full-color editions in an oversized trim! Seven Seas will release two versions of the series, which were originally drawn for different audiences: a paperback version rated Older Teen, and a deluxe hardcover version rated Mature. (Each version is standalone but has alternate depictions of some adult material.)

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD'Thrillingly original' Naoise Dolan'Exquisite' Daily TelegraphTwenty years ago, Oona left the island of Inis for the very first time. A wind-blasted rock of fishing boats and turf fires, where girls stayed in their homes until they became mothers themselves, the island was a gift for some, a prison for others.The Island Child tells two stories: of the girl who grew up watching births and betrayals, storms and secrets, and of the adult Oona, desperate to find a second chance, only to discover she can never completely escape. As the strands of Oona's life come together, in blood and marriage and motherhood, she must accept the price we pay when we love what is never truly ours . . .Trade ReviewAn exquisite debut from an exciting new voice in Irish fiction * * Daily Telegraph * *Like the casts of fairy stories, Aitken's characters can stand for as much as you want them to - but they're also fully realised individuals who come to you through peeks and glances, so that without being able to pinpoint how it happened, you know them, and feel you always have. This is a thrillingly original debut, and I can't wait to see what Aitken does next -- NAOISE DOLAN, author of EXCITING TIMESA haunting tale about the power and danger in a mother's love * * Irish Times * *It's a rare pleasure to come across quite such an accomplished novel as The Island Child. This is a work positively brimming with pathos and emotion, articulated in truly exquisite prose. Oona is a captivating narrator. She's alive on the page -- NATHAN FILER, author of THE SHOCK OF THE FALLAn intriguing debut about motherhood, the trauma we inherit and the inescapability of fate . . . The joy of this book is in Aitken's prose, which is exquisite . . . Aitken is an exciting new voice in Irish literature * * Irish Independent * *The Island Child is the story of a mother's relationship with a misbegotten daughter, sensitively and subtly told -- FAY WELDON, author of PRAXISAitken brings a gut-pummelling mix of folklore, feminism and psychological trauma to her wild debut tale of mothers impelled to take out on their daughters the sins committed against them * * Daily Mail * *A magical, elemental tale. Exploring loss and love, motherhood and freedom and the transformative power of stories, The Island Child is a wonderful debut -- JESS KIDD, author of THINGS IN JARSAitken stitches together many themes - folk legend, family saga, love story, coming of age tale. The result is the sort of book you want to sink into a hot bath with and not emerge until it's finished -- ROWAN HISAYO BUCHANAN, author of STARLING DAYSA confident tale of generational conflict and continuity * * i * *

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Book SynopsisCollector's slipcased edition of the first ever standalone presentation of one of J.R.R. Tolkien's most important poetic dramas, that explores timely themes such as the nature of heroism and chivalry during war, and which features unpublished and never-before-seen texts and drafts.In 991 AD, vikings attacked an Anglo-Saxon defence-force led by their duke, Beorhtnoth, resulting in brutal fighting along the river Blackwater, near Maldon in Essex. The attack is widely considered one of the defining conflicts of tenth-century England, and is immortalised in the poem, The Battle of Maldon.Written shortly after the battle, the poem survives only as a 325-line fragment, but its value to today is incalculable. J.R.R. Tolkien considered The Battle of Maldon the last surviving fragment of ancient English heroic minstrelsy'. It would inspire him to compose, during the 1930s, his own dramatic verse-dialogue, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son, which imagines the aftermath of the great bTrade Review ‘If you were to choose only one [book] to gain some insight into the prolific smorgasbord of his multifaceted writing, this is peak Tolkien’ Wall Street Journal ‘Offers valuable insight into Tolkien’s creative process and enriching our understanding of his scholarly contributions’ Amon Hen, Bulletin of the Tolkien Society ‘Tolkien was a storyteller of genius’ Literary Review

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating new book reveals the origins of the Vikings—from Thor and Leif Erikson to Loki and the Valkyries—and the tales that have influenced our own lives.For thousands of years, Vikings have held a storied place in our culture—their distinct appearance, their mighty longships, their reputation for causing death and destruction. But who were these strange and mysterious folk? The Book of Viking Myths retells the stories of the Viking people, with myths of their gods and goddesses, monsters, and great heroes. From tales of the beautiful and powerful Freyja, to the gold-toothed Heimdallr, to the wolf Fenrir, Peter Archer explores all the figures and tales that make up Norse mythology. Along with these legends of seafaring, dwarves, giants, and the exploits of Thor, you will also discover the influences that Viking culture has had on our own lives. It’s a true exploration of Nordic culture—and a glimpse into the history and lore of these fabled Nordic warriors.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of a 2015 Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award One of Buffalo News' 10 Rare and Wonderful Books for Holiday Giving 2015 Selected for Cosmos Magazine's Holiday Science Reading list 2015 One of Denver Life Magazine's 8 Books for Everyone on Your Holiday List "Engaging the text side by side with the artwork yields a myriad of interesting tonal effects in both the words and the pictures. It's an entirely different approach to the notion of illustration... This book succeeds in scratching the itch many admirers of Carroll and Dali have felt for too long."--Megan Volpert, PopMatters "[The drawings were] originally printed alongside the rise of 1960s psychedelia, we can return to examine the curious collaboration between one of the most prolific 20th-century dreamers and one of the 19th-century's most influential fantasies."--Allison Meier, Hyperallergic "The hardcover book as a physical object has much to recommend it. Beautifully designed with high-quality paper, it is nonetheless inexpensive enough that parents shouldn't panic at the prospect of thumbprints and spills if they read or give it to their children. A great gift for children, children-at-heart, and lovers of timeless culture, it will earn a proud place by the bedside, on the bookshelf, or on the coffee table right beside the tiny golden key to the garden of your imagination."--Jon Sobel, Blogcritics.org "Dali's illustrations have a colourful force of their own. Carroll's Alice anticipated the Surrealist wonderland: dreams and paradoxes, puns and psychoanalysis, distortions of space and time."--Dominic Green, Standpoint "[This] is the copy of Alice's Adventures you keep after having given all the other celebratory variants away ... it comes with two very astute and well-illustrated introductions... It is, as the introductions state, as both creators would like to see it--two weird and/or wonderful minds with much in common, harmonizing across the centuries to result in this very handsome modern edition."--John Lloyd, The Bookbag "All in all a marvelous book printed on thick paper. This anniversary edition will be an irresistible temptation to any bibliophile."--A. Bultheel "The introduction by Burstein ... and Thomas Banchoff provides a valuable grounding in [Dali's] interests and obsessions at the time the gouaches were created."--Library Journal "An elegant edition."--Art Quarterly "[A] stunning 150th-anniversary edition of the classic novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland... Dali's illustrations afford us a glimpse of Wonderland as he sees it, allowing us to better grasp the implications, tropes and symbols the work is pregnant with."--Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "[S]tunning."--Bill Condie, Cosmos Magazine "Older students, especially those studying art and graphics, might well find much to research in this extraordinary collaboration."--Jane Doonan, School Librarian "For more than half a century, this unusual yet organic cross-pollination of genius remained an almost mythic artifact, reserved for collectors and scholars. To mark the 150th anniversary of the beloved book, Princeton University Press brought back to life the Dali-illustrated Alice's Adventures in Wonderland... A crowning achievement among the greatest illustrations of the Carroll masterpiece from the century and a half since its inception, featuring new introductions by Mark Burstein, president of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America, and mathematician Thomas Banchoff, who knew and collaborated with Dali."--Maria Popova, Brain Pickings "The book itself is a beautiful physical object, and it makes available for the first time to the general public Salvador Dali's illustrations for the 1969 Random House edition [Maecenas Press, New York]. We hold it in our hands, enjoying its weight and beautiful cover (Salvador Dali's The lobster's quadrille). We open it at random, and our eyes feel immediately welcomed by the comfortable text size and off-white high-quality paper. We glance through its pages, noticing their pleasant texture, and our curiosity is raised by the attractive colors and shapes of the illustrations. We know, even before we start, that reading Carroll's story in this edition will be a wonderful experience. We sit comfortably, open the book and ... off we go!"--Capi Corrales-Rodriganez, MathSciNetTable of ContentsIntroduction Dodgson and Dali vii Mark Burstein The Math Connection xvii Thomas Banchoff Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 1 One Down the Rabbit-Hole 7 Two The Pool of Tears 15 Three A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale 23 Four The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill 31 Five Advice from a Caterpillar 39 Six Pig and Pepper 47 Seven A Mad Tea-Party 55 Eight The Queen's Croquet-Ground 63 Nine The Mock Turtle's Story 71 Ten The Lobster-Quadrille 79 Eleven Who Stole the Tarts? 87 Twelve Alice's Evidence 95 Acknowledgments 103 Illustration Credits 104

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Book SynopsisThe legend of Mulan--the daughter who disguises herself as a man, dons her father's armor, and heads off to war in his place--remains one of the most popular Chinese folktales despite (or because of) its lack of supernatural demonstrations or interventions.This volume offers lively translations of the earliest recorded version of the legend and several later iterations of the tale (including the screenplay of the hugely successful 1939 Chinese film Mulan Joins the Army), illustrating the many ways that reinterpretations of this basic story reflect centuries of changes in Chinese cultural, political, and sexual attitudes.An Introduction traces the evolution of the Mulan legend and its significance in the history of Chinese popular culture. Annotation explaining terms and references unfamiliar to Western readers, a glossary, and a comprehensive bibliography further enhance the value of this volume for both scholars and students.Trade ReviewIdema's scholarship . . . [and his] ability to translate popular texts into comparably idiomatic English are outstanding achievements.--Hugh R. Clark, Ursinus CollegeThe plots and the elaborations of the Mulan narratives reproduced (and summarized) here demonstrate the many ways in which the Mulan figure has spoken to succeeding generations with differing heroic characteristics and in the idiom that each audience understood; they offer excellent texts for a deep background for any consideration of Mulan in contemporary culture. For scholars of European fairy tales, the narratives offer striking points of comparison with European crossdressing heroines of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries.--Ruth B. Bottigheimer, Stony Brook University

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Book SynopsisThis new selection of myths offers a broad insight into the nature and lifestyle of the ancestral lands of the Native American tribes that once stretched from the tip of Alaska, down to the Bay of Mexico. Hundreds of languages, with traditions and folkore, grew independently across the continent, flourishing in deserts, mountains and lush valleys of a vast land. The loss of such ancient traditions is a reminder of the damage humans can wreak through ignorance, desperation and greed, as settlers from Europe swept imperiously across the newly discovered, but long-populated lands of the so-called New World. From ‘The Great Deeds of Michabo’ to ‘The Legend of Hiawatha’, from trickster creator-deities, heroes and supernatural beings to epic voyages and an affinity with animals, there is so much to discover in this comprehensive new book. It’s the latest addition to Flame Tree’s Epic Tales series of deluxe anthologies and brings together a thoughtful selection of myths and tales from across the ancient plains of North America.

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Book SynopsisIndia, one of the great, ancient civilizations spawned a fascinating canon of myths and legends. With multiple gods, and a riot of colour and character this fantastic new book, Indian Myths, explores the themes and landscapes that created the tales, and reveals the boundless energy that has brought us the Ramayana,The Mahabharata, and retells the stories of Krishna, Buddha and Shiva, and some of the many different versions of creation. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisAs Scheherazade proved long ago, good stories make the best bedtime entertainment. The tales collected here represent the essence of the storyteller's art, with its ancient roots in fantastical legends and tales told around a fire. From the surreal night visions of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'Young Goodman Brown' to the unspeakable horror that haunts two little girls in A. S. Byatt's 'The Thing in the Forest', from Washington Irving's comical 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' to Ursula K. LeGuin's sly perspective on Sleeping Beauty in 'The Poacher', these spellbinding stories transform the stuff of fables and fairy tales into high art. Robert Louis Stevenson, H. G. Wells, Isak Dinesen, Vladimir Nabokov, Angela Carter, Haruki Murakami and many more mingle their voices in this one-volume gateway to dreams - the perfect bedside companion for fiction lovers everywhere

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING CHOCOLAT SERIES''Expertly crafted, typically mouthwatering'' DAILY MAILWhen Vianne Rocher receives a letter from beyond the grave, she allows the wind to blow her back to the village in south-west France where, eight years ago, she opened up a chocolate shop. But Lansquenet is different now: women veiled in black, the scent of spices and peppermint tea, and, on the bank of the river Tannes, facing the church: a minaret.Nor is it only the incomers from North Africa that have brought change. Father Reynaud, Vianne''s erstwhile adversary, is disgraced and under threat. Could it be that Vianne is the only one who can save him now?''A brave and grippingly confected story'' SUNDAY TIMES''Like Chocolat, this book is a feast for the senses. Every page is steeped in scents, colours and tastes'' LITERARY REVIEW''Prepare to be transported by Joanne Harris as she revisits the characters and setting of her first bestseller, Chocolat'' GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGTrade ReviewVianne - unconventional, good-hearted, slightly magical - blows in like a refreshing breeze, forcing people to question their prejudices. A delight * The Times *Expertly crafted, typically mouthwatering * Daily Mail *A delightful jumble of the sensuous sights, sounds and smells the author describes so well * Glamour *Her characteristic love affair with texture – scents, smells and sounds – immerses the reader in a bath of seductive imagery in a brave and grippingly confected story * The Sunday Times *Prepare to be transported by Joanne Harris as she revisits the characters and setting of her first bestseller, Chocolat...Deftly tackling the subject of religious intolerance, this bewitching novel stirs the senses * Good Housekeeping (Book of the Month) *

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Book SynopsisThe Iliad has had a far-reaching impact on Western literature and culture, inspiring writers, artists and classical composers across the ages. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features an introduction by classicist, writer and broadcaster Natalie Haynes, author of A Thousand Ships and host of her own BBC Radio 4 show, Natalie Haynes Stands up for the Classics.Paris, a Trojan prince, wins Helen as his prize for judging a beauty contest between three goddesses, and abducts her from her Greek husband Menelaos. The Greeks, enraged by his audacity, sail to Troy and begin a long siege of the city. The Iliad is set in the tenth year of the war. Achilles – the greatest Greek warrior – is angry with his commander, Agamemnon, for failing to show him respect. He refuses to fight any longer, which is catastrophic for the Greeks, and results in personal tragedy for Achilles, too. With themes of war, rage, grief and love, The Iliad remains powerful and enthralling more than 2,700 years after it was composed.This edition is translated into prose by Andrew Lang, Walter Leaf and Ernest Myers.Trade ReviewThe final book of The Iliad has to be regarded, for my money, as the first great work in Western literature -- Ranjit Bolt * Guardian *The granddaddy of all classics -- Luke Slattery * Sydney Morning Herald *All we read today would be unwritable without the ‘love,’ ‘death’ and ‘dark’ that come to us in the first book of The Iliad * The New York Times *

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Book Synopsis________________Set in a 5th century Britain besieged by invading bands of Saxons and Franks, Irish and Picts, Giles Kristian's epic novel tells - in Lancelot's own words - the story of the most revered yet reviled of all Arthur's knights, the warrior who fought at his lord's side - yet stole his wife.Trade ReviewIt is a masterpiece in the true sense of the word. -- CONN IGGULDEN, author of The Falcon of SpartaSome of us grew up with T H White’s Once and Future King as our touchstone for authenticity in the Arthurian myths; others found that Rosemary Sutcliff, Bernard Cornwell or Mary Stewart filled that role. Giles Kristian pulls together the best of the best and infuses it with his own utterly transformative understanding of myth, magic – and the many faces of love . . . There are so many modern retellings of the Arthurian myth, but this one stands head and shoulders above the rest, in the company of true greatness. -- MANDA SCOTT, author of BoudicaWithout doubt this is Giles Kristian’s finest novel to date. Glorious. Tragic. Lyrical. Totally gripping. I loved it. -- BEN KANE, author of Clash of EmpiresThis most fascinating character from Arthurian legend has been plucked from the 14th-century romances and positioned firmly back in the early medieval environment he belongs in. Giles is an extraordinary writer, able to capture sounds, smells, sensations in a sentence. No other writer thinks and feels his way back to the medieval past the way he does . . . Lancelot is an exceptional book and does what only great historical fiction can do: transport you back through time to feast, fight and feel alongside fascinating characters from the past. No one does this better than Giles Kristian. -- DR JANINA RAMIREZA gorgeous, rich retelling of the Arthurian tale. -- Antonia Senior * THE TIMES *I loved the post Roman chaos of Giles’ vision, just as I imagine it would have been but with the life of that vision breathed into it to render it in stark and bloody tones. But what I enjoyed most was the sheer glorious brutality of the age, delivered by a writer with the heart of a warrior and the soul of a poet. It’s really, really good. -- ANTHONY RICHES, author of The Centurions seriesHis Lancelot is no airy tale of magic and romance, but a muscular telling of warriors and survival, beautifully rendered in a prose that is both visceral and lyrical. This is historical fiction at its very best. -- ELIZABETH FREMANTLE, author of The Girl in the Glass TowerIntense and powerful . . . written with deep expression and enormous feeling. It is a marvellous historical adventure. * Sunday Express *Kristian is a writer with rare power to grab you at the opening of the story and to keep the pace going. Lancelot is a powerful reworking of the King Arthur myths. The pages turn by themselves. -- JUSTIN HILL, author of Viking FireMy impression as I was reading Lancelot was of a flare being held up in the gloom of this peculiarly dark passage of history. Every detail illuminated, every motive believable, every heart laid bare. A bright intensity but passing away, guttering, about to go out. And, by the time his tale comes to its conclusion, that seems to be his point. A gentle lament at the onrushing of a dark and inexorable tide which comes to extinguish a bright and golden age of Britain forever. Lancelot is a gem of a book. If there were six stars, it could have them all. Or, to use the words of Spinal Tap, “This one goes to eleven.” Loved it. -- THEODORE BRUN, author of The Wanderer ChroniclesTruly magical . . . reads with the authority and gravitas of Manda Scott's Boudica books, such that I found it utterly believable throughout . . . it was a stroke of genius to retell this legend through Lancelot's POV, the betrayer rather than the betrayed. -- ANNA STEPHENS, author of GodblindGiles Kristian’s brilliant take on the Arthurian love-triangle is impressively fresh and original . . . the language is arrestingly beautiful, poetic and poignant; the fights are satisfyingly bloody; the background is a believably muddy, pagan and benighted post-Roman Britain, against which Giles unfolds a tender and tragic love story. We know it will end badly, but reading this enchanting and elegiac novel, you can’t help rooting for Lancelot and his love and hoping it will all work out somehow by the final page. -- ANGUS DONALD, author of OutlawAuthentic, epic, and wonderfully Arthurian. -- CHRISTIAN CAMERON, author of The Ill-Made KnightKristian is one of the finest storytellers in the genre . . . this is a novel that you feel as much as you read. What we end up with is utterly staggering . . . Giles has surpassed the Cornwell trilogy in a single title. -- ROBIN CARTER * Parmenion Books *Fiercely beautiful and gripping. -- ANNA SMITH-SPARK, author of The Court of Broken KnivesIt’s difficult to think of any author more gifted to retell Lancelot’s story than Giles Kristian . . . [he] writes so beautifully. He brings these post-Roman years so vividly to life. I love the way in which the recent Roman past haunts this landscape. There is myth here, there is the Druid Merlin, and we’re reminded of many of the famous Arthurian legends, such as Excalibur, but Giles Kristian evokes a time rooted in history and in the land around us even now . . . his writing comes closest to the feeling, mood and beauty of the Old and Middle English verse that I love so much . . . there is power here, deep expression and enormous feeling. I cried and cried as the story ended in the only way it could. -- KATE ATHERTON * For Winter Nights *

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Book SynopsisBabylonian myths, inherited in Mesopotamia from Sumeria, influenced by the ancient Assyrians represent a pinnacle of human achievement in the period around 1800 BC. Here we find humankind battling with the elements in their Flood myth, a grim creation story and the great Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the earliest recorded literary treasures. Babylon, a powerful city state at the time of the ancient Egyptians was a centre of profound spiritual, economic and military power, themes all represented in the fragments and myths of this book of classic tales. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisTwo great epics of Western Culture are combined here into one volume. The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan War of the Ancient Greeks, focusing on the struggles of Achilles. The Odyssey covers the events after the war as Odysseus travels home, encountering many strange monsters and creatures along the way. The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

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Book SynopsisThe ancient Mabinogi is a great world literature, and fascinating Celtic mythology. Centuries of oral storytelling worked up its intricate art, delighting every generation of all ages. The Guest translation from Middle Welsh is the most well-loved, in this new edition with expert introduction by Shân Morgain. Featuring war, love, politics, enchantment, and destiny, with companion tales telling the earliest King Arthur. Brave heroes, dangerous villains, and strong, unforgettable women struggle with classic challenges we know today. FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisThe mythology and folklore of England is as old as the land itself, rich in symbolism and full of tales of quests and heroic daring-do, ghosts and witches, romantic heroines and noble outlaws. Who hasn’t heard of the master sorcerer Merlin, Robin Hood and his merry men, or the legendary monster Grendel? Beginning with the great Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, English Myths explores the early legends of post-Roman England, many of which blend history and myth. The book goes on to examine the rich seam of Arthurian and romantic legends first told in the Medieval era, before looking at English folk heroes and the beasts, witches and ghosts that have haunted the land. Discover the brothers Hengist and Horsa, legendary leaders of the first Angles, Saxons and Jutes to settle in England; learn the tragic story of Cornish hero Tristan and his love for Irish princess Iseult; tremble at the Black Dog ghost, a nocturnal hellhound found stalking the country from Suffolk in the east to Devon in the west; and enjoy the tale of George and the dragon, who saved the nation from a rampaging serpent and became the patron saint of the country. Illustrated with 150 photographs and artworks, English Myths is an accessible, entertaining and highly informative exploration of the fascinating mythology underlying one of the world’s oldest and most influential cultures.Table of ContentsContents to include: ( [[]]=extracted box. ) Introduction Opener: Arrival of ‘Brutus’. 9C story of what already seemed ancient foundation by great grandson of Aeneas (from Historia Brittonum, and Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia...). Idea of England’s formation by successive waves of incomers/invaders. Tabula Rasa: England won’t really have been blank cultural slate, but we’ve no idea what stories were told through long centuries from end of Ice Age to arrival of Celts, c. 500 BCE. Cultural Conquest: Or, rather, of Celtic culture. Idea of cultural exchange/as against invasion. Veni, Vidi, Vici: Romans – real invasion, and conscious imposition of new culture and mythology. [[The Road Not Taken: Celtic myth pushed out to the margins (Wales, Scotland, Ireland), though much later, in modern times, brought back into the mainstream – most obviously with Victorian Arthurian revival.]] Christianity began to replace what had been state paganism of Romans – though NB this process not complete by time hold over Britain began to weaken in early 5th Century. 1. Anglo-Saxon Advent Romano-British culture in its turn replaced after arrival of Anglo-Saxons. (NB this too bit more gradual than word ‘invasion’ would suggest – brief history.) Hengist and Horsa (5C): Legendary brothers said to have led the Angles, Saxons and Jutes in their invasion of Britain in 5C; Horsa was killed fighting the Britons, but Hengist successfully conquered Kent, becoming the forefather of its Jutish kings. Who they were. Germanic mythology – pantheon (Woden, Frigg, Tunor, Tiw), folklore not unlike (but by no means identical to) famous ones of Viking myth. Elves, Nicor, Dragons. [[Romans would in retrospect be mythologized themselves: A-S poem The Ruin sees remains of Roman Bath as the ‘work of giants’.]] Some earlier, Celtic stories subsequently seen through A-S filter: Herne the Hunter; Wild Hunt. 2. Beowulf Beowulf is a legendary Geatish hero (so from Götaland in S. Sweden) in the eponymous epic poem, one of the oldest surviving pieces of literature in the English language. ‘Hwaet ...’: Bardic background. Mead-hall culture and the heroic (Homeric-style) storyteller. Importance of oral tradition. [[‘Gemunde ...’ (‘I remember ...’): Oral tradition in transmission of myth.]] Story itself: exploits of Beowulf and his battles, 1) with a monster named Grendel; 2) with Grendel’s revengeful mother; then, finally, 3) with a dragon, guardian of a hoard of treasure. His death and mourning follow. Scribal Censors? Poems like Beowulf and FF written down by Christian monks. Influence to some extent evident in texts (Biblical allusions etc). Just how much did they help shape these stories as we’ve come to know them now? 3. Danish Domination ‘Finnesburg Fragment’ – Anglo-Saxon poem about battle between Danes and Frisians (which is also described in Beowulf). Vikings, Dane’s especially, casting a long and growing shadow over Anglo-Saxon life and myth. Briefest of outlines of Viking origins, culture, religion and myth, esp. in sort of heroic (so bardic and Beowulf-like) aspects foregrounded in the Sagas. [[England in the ‘Iceland’ Sagas – basically, seen as part of a ‘greater Scandinavia’ at this time; point amplified by Beowulf (about Geats; FF Danes and Frisians).]] Myth and history not clearly demarcated at this time: mythic material crops up in supposedly historical narrative and vice-versa. Alfred the Great (849–899) a special focus for these stories: In 878, burns the cakes in Athelney, Somerset before defeating the Viking Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Edington. [[Hagiographic Hero: Religion brought a mythology all its own, especially in hagiography (saints’ lives). St Edmund, East Anglian King killed (or martyred) by GHA, 869.]] Battle of Brunanburh: real battle (937) that took on mythic status in Anglo-Saxon poem. ‘Never, before this,/were more men in this island slain/by the sword's edge – as books and aged sages/confirm – since Angles and Saxons sailed here...’ Murder of King Edward the Martyr (c. 962–78); Aethelraed the Unready (c. 966–1016; ‘Danegeld’); Denmark’s Cnut (c. 990–1035) and North Sea Empire (and quarrel with the tide). 4. Arthurian Legend Coming of Normans brought further overlayering of existing culture (cf. Romans, A- S, above), though more obviously at top of society than at bottom. Idea of chivalry brought in from continental courts. King Arthur (late 5th and early 6th centuries AD): a legendary leader who, according to medieval histories and romances, led defence of Britain against Saxon invaders. But most of the stories that made it into the mythic legacy aren’t about this epic combat but the romances of the court, and the ‘Knights of the Round Table’. The Matter of Britain and the ‘Arthurian’ heritage of English myth. Central idea of Arthur and his Knights presented a sort of mythic centre around which endless other narratives could be woven. [[Other Matters: NB not just English writers but continental ones like Chrétien de Troyes, Gottfried von Strassburg, etc, wrote Arthurian works with British settings. There were other acknowledged story-cycles: Matter of France (or ‘Franks’ as we’d see it now, so stories of Charlemagne’s empire); Matter of Rome – again, not quite as we’d see it: more classical antiquity – Trojan War and rise of Alexander the Great.]] Many elements and incidents appear in Geoffrey's Historia ... (c. 1136), including Arthur's father Uther Pendragon; the magician Merlin; Arthur's wife Guinevere; the sword Excalibur; Arthur's conception at Tintagel; his final battle against Mordred at Camlann, and final rest in Avalon [[Joseph of Aramathea and Glastonbury]]. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Gawain accepts a challenge from a mysterious ‘Green Knight’ who dares any knight to strike him with his axe if he will take a return blow in a year and a day. [[Green Knight’s relation to Green Man as wider symbol of fertility and rebirth.]] Tristan and Iseult: Tragedy about the adulterous love between the Cornish knight Tristan and the Irish princess Iseult. [[Celtic Connections: 14C romance Sir Launfal – exiled from Arthur’s court, and destitute, taken up by Fairy Queen as lover. Involvement of this supernatural dimension points to Celtic origins of story. These have been suggested for much Arthurian material.]] Tinged with nostalgia. Arthurian romances already involved the high-medieval reinvention of an early-medieval king (if he ever existed). We can’t help but read them now through a 19C filter. Victorian vogue: Tennyson, Pre-Raphaelite art, etc. 5. Noble Knights and Ladies Fair Arthurian stories only the most famous in a wider genre of chivalric romance ... For example, mid-13C King Horn, a chivalric romance in Middle English. Saint George and the Dragon: The legend goes that Saint George, a Roman soldier in the 10th century, came across a town plagued by an evil dragon about to kill the king of England’s daughter. George is said to have slain the dragon, freed the town and rescued the princess, thus becoming the patron saint of England. Myth became far removed from origins, George remodelled as a medieval knight. [[Naked Courage: Lady Godiva (dates to at least the 13th century): 12C English noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked – covered only in her long hair – through the streets of Coventry to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation that her husband imposed on his tenants.]] Guy of Warwick (dates to the 13th century): Legendary English hero of Romance popular in England and France from the 13th to 17th centuries. Fighting Back: Stories of dispossessed nobles having to fight for what’s rightly theirs. Gamelyn (14C); Fulk FitzWarin (c. 1180–1350). Shropshire nobleman cheated of lands by King John. Fought to get them back. Real-life figure but acquired semi- legendary status after death. Became sort of prototype figure for ... 6. Robin Hood ‘I cannot say my Pater Noster as perfectly as the priest does,/But I know my rhymes of Robin Hood ...’ First mention comes (in John Langland’s Piers Plowman) in the 1370s. Heroic outlaw of English folklore who, according to legend, was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. The folk hero became surrounded by a whole folk history (Richard I’s worthless brother John usurping his kingdom while warrior king away at Crusades; Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisborne his oppressive representatives on the ground), but NB this didn’t happen till 16C. RH traditionally depicted dressed in Lincoln green (cf. Green Man, above p. xxx) and living beyond the law in Sherwood Forest, reserved as royal hunting ground. [[The People’s Weapon: The Longbow.]] A yeoman (explain) in the earliest ballads, he is said to rob from the rich and give to the poor. Succession of stories introducing key Merry Men: Little John, Will Scarlet, Much the Miller’s Son, Allen a Dale, Friar Tuck (a late addition). [[Sherwood on Stage: associated with May celebrations, so late-medieval festive plays; popular dramas written in Elizabethan and Jacobean periods too.]] Archery Contest. A Woman’s Touch: RH’s Merry Men later (again 16C) joined by Merry Woman in enchanting shape of Maid Marian. Her addition marks growing sophistication and acceptance of story as romance (i.e. literary, more courtly pretensions), rather than straightforward folktale. RH’s comparative gentleness – and his gentility, his courteous way with ladies – an indication of this. Tendency culminates in RH’s elevation (in 1622 ballad by Martin Parker) to rank of Earl of Huntingdon, who has more in common with dispossessed aristocrats of previous chapter (‘Fighting Back’) than popular brigand we might have imagined. RH reinvented yet again in 19C by e.g. Chartists Thomas Miller (novelist) and W.J. Linton (poet); romantic patriot Walter Scott and followers: for both these groups RH became A-S freedom fighter battling Norman domination. [[Historicity, in so far as he has any: Loxley, Yorkshire; grave at Kirklees (and Little J’s at Hathersage).]] 7. From the Piskies to Puck Cornish Piskies: stories of piskie interactions with humans tell how they have the power to abduct, befuddle and lead people astray over the landscape. This conception of the fairy folk as malicious and often ugly an old, originally-Celtic one. Idea survives in Cornish (esp. West Penwith) tradition of the Spriggan. Just about makes it into modernity in wider English tradition in figure of Puck or Robin Goodfellow, often referred to in 16C but most famously now in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Puck, sometimes known as Robin Goodfellow, is a domestic and nature sprite, demon or fairy, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (c. 1595). Shakespeare’s Puck is mischievous and sometimes spiteful, but not actually evil. It’s in this play, moreover, that Shakespeare ‘invents’ the tiny, cute, benevolent fairies we think of nowadays. ‘Queen Mab’, in Romeo and Juliet (c. 1591), a sort of female version of Robin Goodfellow, seems to have originated in Shakespeare’s imagination. Generally, though, sense now creeping in that the fairies are a source of entertainment rather than of fear. Hence the story of ... Tom Thumb: The first fairy tale printed in English, Richard Johnson’s The History of Tom Thumb was published in 1621, though the character appears to have existed earlier in the folk tradition. Given ploughman father’s grief at his childlessness, mother seeks help from Arthur’s court magician Merlin. Tom, who’s delivered by fairy midwives, is no bigger than his father's thumb. His adventures include being swallowed by a cow, tangling with giants, and becoming a favourite of King Arthur. 8. Bogeymen and Beasts Jack o’ Kent: (16C, or earlier) a cunning figure from Herefordshire/Monmouth with an aptitude for outwitting the devil. The Lincoln Imp: Grotesque carving in Cathedral. Satan sent two imps to Earth to cause mischief. On reaching Lincoln, the imps began damaging the Cathedral before being stopped by an angel who turned one to stone. Witches: Heart on a wall above a window overlooking market square in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, supposedly marks the point at which it was struck by the heart of Margaret Read, which leapt from her body as she burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1590. Arguably whole story of witchcraft in England is a long and elaborate myth, but consequences – for men and (mainly) women, here and at e.g. Pendle, Lancashire, 1612, were all too real. Grindylow – This water-dwelling bogeyman from Yorkshire or Lancashire has long sinewy arms, and is famed for drowning children in bogs and pools. (NB associated with trad. of Grendel, p. xxx, above.) Jenny Greenteeth – Green-skinned with long hair and sharp teeth, she pulls children or the elderly into water to drown them. The Black Dog legend – In 16th century Suffolk, this calf-sized malevolent hound with saucer-sized glowing red eyes is a harbinger of doom and death. The black dog is essentially a nocturnal apparition, in some cases a shapeshifter, and is often said to be associated with the Devil or described as a ghost or supernatural hellhound. Beast of Bodmin Moor: a black panther-like beast seen roaming this wild and isolated landscape in Southwest England (and not usually a habitat for big cats). Spring-Heeled Jack, Victorian urban Legend. Diabolical figure, 10 ft tall, who hopped over houses. [[Hairy Hands of Dartmoor: Disembodied hands causing car accidents on B3212, Dartmoor, since 1910.]] Famous Phantoms: Anne Boleyn, Blickling Hall, Norfolk; Jane Seymour and Katherine Howard, Hampton Court; Sir Francis Drake, Buckland Abbey, Devon; Welsh rebel Owain Glyndwr, among several others, at Croft Castle, W. Midlands; Longleat’s Grey Lady; Roman Legionary, Treasurer’s House, Yorks ... [[The Cock Lane Ghost: an 18C sensation.]] Index

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Book SynopsisOnce again, Goranson channels the epics of the past to take the reader on a journey filled with adventure, danger, and forbidden love I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, Viking tales, and mythology!' ? ? ? ? ? reader reviewWIFE.DAUGHTER.DREAMER.Anja Freydisdottir has always heard whispers of her mother's adventures in Vinland. All she longs for is to spread her wings and follow them but she's trapped by the expectations of 11th-century society.Liberation comes from an unexpected source when she is helped to flee across the Atlantic on a Viking longboat bound for Vinland shores.Haunted by the ominous shadows of a family history she does not know, Anja must seek a perilous path into an unfamiliar wilderness to find her answersThe Flight of Anja is an unmissable historical novel of epic adventure and forbidden love perfect for fans of Vikings and Outlander.What readers are saying:I really enjoyed this book, it was beautifully written, almost lyrical in its Trade Review‘Anyone who loves Vikings and historical fiction definitely should pick up this book’ Emily, NetGalley reviewer ‘Very lyrically written, I felt as if I was reading a song’ Tiffany, NetGalley reviewer ‘As a lover of mythology and historical fiction I knew immediately I was going to like this book – and I’m pleased to say I not only liked it but I LOVED it!’ Libby, NetGalley reviewer ‘Tamara Goranson’s writing really shines here. I felt the cold, heard the wind, flinched with the blows – that takes a lot of skill’ Dawn, NetGalley reviewer ‘Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions’ Charlotte, NetGalley reviewer

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, a collection of stories about memory: the source of meaning and coherence in our lives, the fragile thread that connects us to ourselves and to others.In the luminous title story, a young boy in South Africa comes to possess an old woman's secret, a piece of the past with the power to redeem a life. In The River Nemunas', a teenaged orphan moves from Kansas to Lithuania, and discovers a world in which myth becomes real. And in Afterworld,' a woman who escaped the Holocaust is haunted by visions of her childhood friends in Germany, yet finds solace in the tender ministrations of her grandson.The stories in Memory Wall show us how we figure the world, and show Anthony Doerr to be a master of the form.Trade Review‘It's fair to say that Anthony Doerr is doing things with the short story that have rarely been attempted and seldom achieved. The stories in Memory Wall have such scope and depth that they hit as hard as novels three times their length. Doerr has set a new standard, I think, for what a story can do.’ Dave Eggers ‘Ambitiously wide-ranging and inventive, Doerr’s six stories movingly investigate the ways in which we are nothing without memory.’ Sunday Times ‘Doerr is a lusciously good stylist.’ Guardian ‘If this book's wisdom can be summed up in a single line it is this one, from ‘Afterworld’: ‘Within the wet enclosure of a single mind a person can fly from one decade to the next, one country to another, past to present, memory to imagination.’ That thought informs Memory Wall many times.’ Janet Maslin, Scotsman

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Book SynopsisAtmospheric and very creepy' The GuardianGoosebump-inducingUnforgettable' Woman & HomeUnforgettableOne suspects that the real sorceress here is Golding, whose writing has given a voice to every wronged mother'The New York TimesChilling storystunning' Clare MackintoshTaps into every woman's fear that she will not be believed' Mel McGrath, author of The Guilty Party* * * *THE TWINS ARE CRYING. THE TWINS ARE HUNGRY.LAUREN IS CRYING. LAUREN IS EXHAUSTED.Behind the hospital curtain, someone is waiting . . .A terrifying encounter in the middle of the night leaves Lauren convinced someone is trying to steal her new-born twins. Desperate with fear, she locks herself and her sons in the bathroom until the police arrive.When DS Joanna Harper picks up the list of reported overnight incidents, she expects the usual calls from drunks and wrong numbers. But then a report of an attempted abduction catches her eye. The only thing is that it was flagged as a false alarm just fifteen minutes later. But Trade Review‘Atmospheric and very creepy’ The Guardian ‘A haunting read’ Closer ‘Goosebump-inducing . . . Nightmarish and unforgettable’ Woman & Home ‘Chilling story, beautiful prose. Little Darlings is stunning’ Clare Mackintosh, number one Sunday Times bestseller ‘Dark, richly evocative, tense and thought-provoking. Taps into every woman's fear that she will not be believed’ Mel McGrath, author of The Guilty Party ‘Rich and satisfying, this is part who-done-it, part fairy tale, part psychological thriller. It delivers on all fronts and will continue to rattle you, long after you have put it down’ Felicity Everett, author of The People at Number 9 ‘Deep. Dark. Utterly addictive. I read this extraordinary book in one, breathless gulp…Be warned – you can't unread this story. It will haunt you' Teresa Driscoll, author of I Am Watching You ‘A story that is in turn enthralling, creepy and downright sinister, Melanie Golding turns fairy tales on their heads…A brilliant, heart-pounding read’ Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me ‘Viscerally creepy and compelling – a contemporary dark fairy tale that reeled me in like tales of old’ Angela Clarke, author of Follow Me ‘Little Darlings is brilliant – beautifully written, disturbing and deliciously creepy’ Roz Watkins, author of The Devil’s Dice ‘Part psychological thriller, part dark fairy tale, it taps into primal fears of early parenthood’ iNews ‘Riveting, terrifying and at times heartbreaking…Melanie Golding’s disturbing portrait of a new mother’s paranoia is superbly written, cleverly plotted and gruesomely beautiful in an unforgettable way. A stunning debut and a uniquely creepy premise’ Annie Ward, author of Beautiful Bad

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Book SynopsisThe most significant translation in one hundred years of one of the greatest works of world literature   From Ali Baba and the forty thieves to the voyages of Sinbad, the stories of The Arabian Nights are timeless and unforgettable. Published here in three volumes, this magnificent new edition brings these tales to life for modern readers in the first complete English translation since Richard Burton’s of the 1880s.   Every night for three years the vengeful King Shahriyar sleeps with a different virgin, and the next morning puts her to death. To end this brutal pattern, the vizier's daughter, Shahrazad, begins to tell the king enchanting tales of mystical lands peopled with princes and hunchbacks, of the Angel of Death and magical spirits, and of jinnis trapped in rings and in lamps—a sequence of stories that will last 1,001 nights, and that will save her own life.Trade ReviewPenguin has produced this magnificent, unexpurgated edition of the greatest collection of folk tales in the world...The Arabian Nights is not a book to be read in a week. It is an ocean of stories to be dipped into over a lifetime. And this new Penguin edition is the one to have. Settle back, pour a glass of wine and sail away with Sinbad to the Island of Serendib -- Christopher Hart * The Sunday Times *The tales satisfy imaginations famished for wonder. But even more importantly, they stand like fabulous cities against the encroachments of the dark * Standpoint *These magnificent volumes are the most ambitious and thorough translation into English of the Arabian Nights since the age of Queen Victoria and the British Empire. * Guardian *This is the most comprehensive collection of the stories to date; freshly gathered and translated from Arabic and French sources, this makes a glorious collectors' edition. * Easy Living *...this new translation of the world's greatest collection of folk stories restores their colour and verve * The Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''Once upon a time in mid-winter, when the snowflakes were falling from the sky like down, a queen was sitting and sewing at a window ...''The tales gathered by the Grimm brothers are at once familiar, fantastic, homely, and frightening. They seem to belong to no time, or to some distant feudal age of fairytale imagining. Grand palaces, humble cottages, and the forest full of menace are their settings; and they are peopled by kings and princesses, witches and robbers, millers and golden birds, stepmothers and talking frogs.Regarded from their inception both as uncosy nursery stories and as raw material for the folklorist the tales were in fact compositions, collected from literate tellers and shaped into a distinctive kind of literature. This new translation mirrors the apparent artlessness of the Grimms, and fully represents the range of less well-known fables, morality tales, and comic stories as well as the classic tales. It takes the stories back to their roots in German RomanticisTrade ReviewThe book that afforded me deepest pleasure is 'Selected Tales' by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (trans Joyce Crick). What a joy to meet Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel and Ashypet again in these sparkling new versions. * Paul Bailey, The Independent *terrific new edition...forcefully translated and brilliantly analysed, by Joyce Crick. * The Independent *Joyce Crick, a fine scholar of German literature, has set out here to rescue Grimm's Tales both from children and folklorists and to help us see it as a major work of literature... she has done a magnificent job, and both she and OUP are to be congratulated. * TLS *

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Book SynopsisReviving obscure stories from Victorian periodicals alongside nail-biting episodes from master storytellers such as Elizabeth Gaskell, M. R. James and Margery Lawrence, this is a collection by turns enchanting, moving and thoroughly frightening.

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Book SynopsisCaribbean folk tales set alongside local reminiscences of 1950s migration from the Caribbean to Britain

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