New Releases by James Aldridge

When young Spit MacPhee comes to live with his grandfather, the people of the Australian country town of St Helen fear for his future. Fyfe MacPhee is a crazy old man, and barefoot Spit has to fend for himself along the riverbank where they live. While some people feel that Spit can look after himself, others believe he would be better cared for in a boys home - and when old Fyfe dies after one of his 'turns' a fierce battle to decide Spit's destiny begins. Featuring a new introduction from Phillip Gwynne in this Text Classics edition, The True Story of Spit MacPhee is a much-loved, quintessentially Australian novel for readers of all ages. James Aldridge is a multi-award winning Australian author and journalist. Aldridge was born in Bendigo and his family moved to Swan Hill in the mid-1920s. His novels based on the real living conditions of Swan Hill include his 1985 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year The True Story of Lilli Stubeck and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize-winning The True Story of Spit MacPhee. James Aldridge now lives in London.

This is a new release of the original 1942 edition.

While recuperating on the south coast of France after a terrible accident, 13-year-old Beau meets Lelee, a sort of wild child, more at home in the sea than on land. Together with Beau's younger sister they roam around the Bay of Angels in their little boat in search of a box that Lelee believes contains a fortune. They are constantly being watched by a group of smugglers who are looking for the same box. The summer turns into an intriguing adventure which gradually unfolds as Beau regains his strength, thanks to his new surroundings and the people he meets, including his eccentric aunt, her companion Clothilde and, above, all, Lelee, who also has her own sad tale that means she must one day leave the place she loves.

Chronique. Drame. Réalisme. Roman. Social. Un gamin de onze ans qui vit pieds nus comme un sauvage avec son grand-père à moitié fou, ça scandalise les honnêtes gens. Et que fera-t-on de Spit quand le vieux mourra ? Betty la sévère veut le mettre en cage : l'orphelinat le dressera, ce rebelle ! Mais pour Sadie et sa mère, Spit est quelqu'un de bien qui sait ce qu'il veut dans la vie. Elles l'aiment, lui font confiance et l'aideront à rester libre.

Spit wohnt mit seinem Grossvater am Fluss und führt ein viel interessanteres Leben als die anderen Jungen in der Stadt. Als der Grossvater stirbt, soll Spit in ein Waisenhaus kommen.

Roman.

Romance of an Australian Romeo and Juliet is blighted by their stiff-necked fathers.