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.

A New York Review Children''s Collection Original The Complete Bostock and Harris combines two delightful, suspenseful, and madly funny tales about two boys in eighteenth-century England, clever and mischievous Harris and sweet but not-so-bright Bostock, who in spite of their differences are the best of friends. In “The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris,” the wily pair put their classical education to the test when they adopt the Spartan custom of exposing infants to the wild, leaving Harris’s infant sister, Adelaide, to the elements. The boys imagine a wolf will come to nourish her, but their plan backfires. It is springtime in “The Night of the Comet,” and in the days before Pigott’s comet will pass over their town, Harris’s and Bostock’s thoughts turn to love: Bostock swoons over Harris’s sister Mary; Harris longs for Captain Bostock’s telescope. The boys strike a deal: Bostock will make off with the telescope in exchange for Harris’s “expert” wooing advice. Unfortunately, that expertise is not quite what Bostock would have hoped.

Secrets whispered up a chimney, a golden locket with a broken chain, murder in the streets of London – and suddenly young Barnacle is plunged into a terrifying mystery. The December Rose is a thrilling tale of deceit, espionage and murder set in the teeming, colourful Victorian London.

''Him what''s born on the chime . . . he''s the one what''ll have communications with the devil.'' At the age of fourteen, ''chime-child'' Peter Gannet is apprenticed to a locksmith in Covent Garden. But his desperate longing to escape from the insufferable adults around him and go to sea leads him into some dubious undertakings. Before long, the old ship''s carpenter''s dire prophecy comes true, for in the locksmith''s workroom he meets a phantom with an empty sleeve. Tense and atmospheric, this is a gripping thriller about ghosts, a wall of hands, envy, dishonesty and finally murder!

The Mystery of Edwin Drood was Charles Dickens final novel, and remained unfinished at the time of his death. In this edition, beloved children''s author Leon Garfield gives the story a satisfying ending.

''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.

The Confidence Man follows 14-year-old Hans Ruppert and a band of Protestants as they leave their home town and seek peace and freedom from Persecution in the New World. They are led by a mysterious hussar, who has offered to lead then to safety. To Hans he is a fascinating figure, but to the others he is a swindler, likely to abandon them at any moment.

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.

A bargain of a lifetime - seven years off the end of his life in exchange for a fortune now! By day, Mr Fast was a solicitor’s clerk, drawing up strangle-tight agreements and contracts. By night he repaired to his rooms to spy upon his neighbours (for he had no friends) and to dream of being richer than other men. But when old Mr FIshbane offers him what he most desires in return for seven years off the end of his life, he could never imagine the little lost spectre that will come to haunt him . . . Another remarkable novel from Leon Garfield.

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.

Jackson is cold and starving in the dreadful winter weather. He''s looking forward to the steaming pie that is payment for a long night''s work. When the huge black dog comes - growling and glaring - Jackson gives it half his meal. One bargain soon leads to another - and to some unexpected rewards . . . With an engaging (and very creepy) story, illustrated in colour and black and white on every double page spread, this story is ideal for newly confident readers.

En ce soir de la Saint-Sylvestre, Benjamin Partridge, l''apprenti de l''apothicaire Corbett, s''est mis en route pour livrer un médicament : cinq kilomètres à parcourir par une nuit sans lune, sur un chemin battu par les vents et infesté de brigands... Il pense à la chaleur de son foyer et souhaite, de toute son âme, la mort de ce gredin de Corbett. Attention, jeune Partridge ! Et si votre imprudent souhait se réalisait ? Spectres et pactes étranges pour ce conte fantastique envoûtant. Une réflexion sur la haine et la vengeance dans un univers mystérieux.

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.

Retells in a continuous narrative the activities and adventures of the Greek gods and goddesses and their relationships with each other and with human beings.

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.

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.

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

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

An illustrated, abridged version of the Shakespeare tragedy adapted for a series of animated films, and with background information on the play itself, on Shakespeare, and on the theatre in Shakespeare''s day.

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

Young William Jones is on a desperate search through darkest London for John Diamond, the son of a man his father apparently once cheated badly. Will he find him? Originally published in the United States as Footsteps, John Diamond "combines a cast of remarkable eccentrics with superb sensory descriptions" (The Horn Book). The title was a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.