New Releases by Leon Garfield

Introduce kids ages 10+ to 21 of Shakespeare’s most memorable plays—including Hamlet, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream “ . . . will lay the groundwork for many a future enchanted evening at the theater.” —Wall Street Journal How to introduce children to Shakespeare, not just to the stories behind the plays but to the richness of Shakespeare’s language and the depth of his characters: That’s the challenge that Leon Garfield, no slouch as a wordsmith himself, sets out to meet in his monumental and utterly absorbing Shakespeare Stories. Here, 21 of the Bard’s plays are refashioned into stories that are true to the wit, the humor, the wisdom, the sublime heights, the terrifying depths, and above all the poetry of their great originals. Included: • Twelfth Night • King Lear • The Tempest • The Merchant of Venice • The Taming of the Shrew • King Richard the Second • King Henry IV, Part One • Hamlet • Romeo and Juliet • Othello • A Midsummer Night’s Dream • Macbeth • Much Ado About Nothing • Julius Caesar • Antony and Cleopatra • Measure for Measure • As You Like It • Cymbeline • King Richard the Third • The Comedy of Errors • The Winter’s Tale Throughout, Garfield skillfully weaves in Shakespeare’s own words, accustoming young readers to language and lines that might at first seem forbiddingly unfamiliar. Leon Garfield’s Shakespeare Stories is an essential distillation—a truly Shakespearean tribute to Shakespeare’s genius and a delight for children and parents alike.

''As far as the eye can see, scarlet men are marching . . . A rich and splendid company, but none more so than the drummer boy.'' But a moment later, the sound of Charlie Samson''s drum was swallowed in a wild thunder. The glorious scarlet troops had been ambushed. Men were dead and dying all around, and all the beauty was gone. All that was left was himself and his drum, and a few shady nightwalkers - cowards who came crawling from the ditches and knaves who scoured the dead for wealth . . .

Two boys, Lewis and Richard, travel to paris in 1789 for very different reasons, and find their ideals challenged in the events of the French Revolution and the September massacre.

''My father, that stern and upright man, was nothing but a swindler and a thief!'' What is the matter with old Mr Jones? Endless footsteps and low groans can be heard from his room in the dead of night. Only his son William knows the a terrible secret: his father betrayed his business partner Mr Diamond, and swindled him out of a great fortune. William resolves to go to London, find Mr Diamond and make amends. But the murky big city, with its sinister characters and treacherous back streets, is no place for a boy of twelve. And Mr Diamond''s own son is not the sort of person to forgive and forget. Danger and deceit lie waiting... Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can find out more about the wonderful author and learn some Cockney rhyming slang! Vintage Children’s Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Eastward in Clerkenwell lies the Mulberry Pleasure Garden: six acres of leafy walks, colonnades and pavillions. In this bosky setting parade a variety of characters of awesome granduer, innocence and evil - and all are subject to a ring of blackmail terror.

Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen retells some of the most famous Greek myths in this classic of children''s literature. This is the epic history of the Greek Gods told from their violent beginnings to the creation of man.

Across the continents of the ancient world wandered the Storyteller, enchanting all who heard him with his wondrous tales of the gods. He longed for a glimpse of the all-powerful deities of his stories, and listened eagerly to those who had experiences such encounters. And interwoven with his journey is the story of Heracles – a magnificent story with all the intense drama and high tragedy of the Greek Myths.

Set in the streets of London, the story follows the hopes and aspirations of young Tim and his pet monkey, Pistol, as they use their wits to get money out of rich folk. Their apparent success is brought to a halt one disasterous foggy evening , and Tim and Pistol are led off to Newgate Gaol . . .

Harris and Bostock are best friends, but they are as different from one another as night and day. Harris thinks up harebrained schemes and Bostock gets in trouble for them. When Harris puts his baby sister Adelaide in the woods to see if she will be adopted by a fox, little do they realize that they are starting a chain of events that will be remembered in their little seaside town as the Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris.

Young Smith was a pickpocket - a very accomplished one. But one day his pick-pocketing was to lead him into a sinister and dangerous web of murder, intrigue and betrayal.

George Treet, actor, suddenly becomes George Dexter Esq., son of Sir John Dexter. Just when he''s getting used to his new position in life he finds himself the victim of attempted murder and family treachery.

An action-packed pirate story, with bloodcurdling deaths, terrifying ghosts and adventures galore on the high seas. Orphan Jack Holborn stows away on a ship, little guessing the dangers and excitements that lie on his journey ahead. Before long he finds himself caught up in the middle of a mystery surrounding his long-lost mother, but before he can discover the truth, he has to survive the quest through an eerie African jungle for a famous diamond, worth more than Jack''s wildest dreams.

Together, Leon Garfield and Michael Foreman have produced a literary and illustrative tour de force that pays homage to the world''s most celebrated playwright.

The most famous of Shakespeare''s plays retold as short and easy-to-read stories.

An abridged version of "King Richard III" accompanied by illustrations from the television series. Suggested level: secondary.

An illustrated, abridged version of Shakespeare''s tragedy with background information and explanatory stage directions.

Based on the TV series of animated Shakespeare plays, this version of his comedy of sexual conflict is illustrated in colour by the Russian artists responsible for the animation, and is produced in conjunction with Professor Stanley Wells and Dr Rex Gibson.

In "Romeo and Juliet," as a fued between two families escalates, two star-crossed lovers are forced to take fate into their own hands.

Two young Englishmen become involved in the French Revolution, culminating in the September Massacre.

Fantasy.

Two orphans are lured to an immense mansion by a mysterious dog where, because of their compassion, hard work, patience, and kindness, they make the transformation from rags to riches.

Samuel, a kitchen-boy in Babylon, serves Belshazzar, the King, and his guests at the feast during which God delivers a message to Belshazzar which is interpreted by Judge Daniel

Harris offers Bostock the affections of his sister in exchange for the brass telescope of Bostock''s father and starts a string of misunderstandings about who is courting whom in Brighton.

Examines the lasting cultural contributions of the age of the Hanover Kings, focusing on the work and personalities of the Kings and queens, writers, musicians, architects, and scientists of the eighteenth century.