Search Results for: Joan Aiken

‘Joan Aiken’s invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon’ PHILLIP PULLMAN

‘One of the most important and interesting children’s fiction writers of the last fifty years’ NEIL GAIMAN

‘The Gift Giving is the perfect selection of stories to introduce readers to this precious and incredible author’ KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE

‘The voice that tells these stories is braver than us, unflappable; someone who knows the ways of the world and loves it anyway. She is one of the writers I admire most in the world’ KATHERINE RUNDELL

‘Favourite stories, like unexpected presents, are things that you can keep and cherish all your life, carry with you, in memory, in your mind’s ear, and bring out, at any time, when you are feeling lonely, or need cheering up, or, like friends, just because you are fond of them’

Joan Aiken is justly famous for her Wolves of Willoughby Chase series, but her greatest love was for short stories, which she wrote prolifically throughout her long career.

From a princess turned into a pirate parrot to a procession of Father Christmases chased down Fifth Avenue by a rackety horse and cart; from the ghost of a crusader’s dog, to a captured mermaid in a flying machine, there is something for everybody in this enthralling collection. These stories showcase Aiken’s unique talents – the way she mixed magic and myth with humour to create a kind of modern fairytale. Her stories will appeal to readers of all ages for many years to come.

WITH BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETER BAILEY

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE

‘She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for years to come’ PHILIP PULLMAN
‘Witty and endlessly inventive’ CHRIS RIDDELL
‘She’s one of the most important and interesting children’s fiction writers of the last fifty years’ NEIL GAIMAN

‘The Under People. They live in a huge Cave. They are thought to be boring upwards. Giant worms and flying ants. Underground magic’

Mickle, the palace cat, knows the kingdom is in danger. He can feel it in his whiskers and he has found a mysterious note in the royal library … (Yes, of course he can read, and speak – if he chooses to!) Mickle can’t trust the King and Queen with his mission, so he and Prince Michael, with the help of their animal friends (and quite a bit of magic!), set out on a perilous quest to find the sinister Under People, discover their secret power and save the Kingdom of Astalon.

In her first novel, written when she was only a teenager, Joan Aiken showcases the imagination, wit and storytelling zest that would lead to classics like Arabel’s Raven and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE

‘She’s one of the most important and interesting children’s fiction writers of the last fifty years’ NEIL GAIMAN
‘What a thrill to discover this gem from the witty and endlessly inventive Joan Aiken’ CHRIS RIDDELL
‘She is one of the writers I admire most in the world’ KATHERINE RUNDELL
‘She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for years to come’ PHILIP PULLMAN

‘I wish we’ll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen – say, Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, or that would get a bit dull’

As a result of their mother’s honeymoon wish, Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn and are prepared for anything life can throw at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying – but never, ever dull.

‘A delightful summary of one side of Aiken’s talent: whimsical, funny, a series of brilliantly imaginative ideas stitched together with dream logic . . . It is the mixture of irrepressible gaiety and invention with the tragic that makes Aiken one of the great children’s authors . . . impossible to calculate the number of people who have enjoyed her books – who have had some magic injected into the mundane’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Featuring stories by A.S. Byatt – Angela Carter – Lisa St Aubin de Teran – May Sinclair – Joan Aiken – Stella Gibbons – Edith Wharton – E.M. Delafield – Elizabeth Bowen – Ruth Rendell – and many more.

This collection gathers together deliciously chilling tales from the three highly acclaimed volumes of Virago ghost stories. Here lost loves, past enmities and unwanted memories mingle with the inexplicable as unquiet souls return to repay kindnesses, settle scores and haunt the imagination. All of the writers demonstrate a subtle power to delight and chill at the same time as they explore the ghostly margins of the supernatural.

‘It took me four days to read this book and I really enjoyed it’ GUARDIAN

‘One of my all-time favourite books. It’s a very lively, funny story’ JACQUELINE WILSON

‘Katy speaks with a charm and directness that remains as fresh as when it was written’ AMANDA CRAIG

Katy Carr has grand plans to be beautiful, graceful and ladylike . . . one day! But for now she has hair that is always tangled, bootlaces undone, a torn dress and she doesn’t care about being well-behaved. With a wild imagination and high spirits, she is always up to mischief, but there never has been a heroine as lovable as Katy. Then a terrible accident happens and it takes all her courage and hard-learned patience to keep her dreams alive.

This collection of the best in children’s literature, curated by Virago, will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.

‘One of my all-time favourite books . . . It’s a very lively funny story’ JACQUELINE WILSON

‘A girl’s journey from sweltering midwestern plains to the freezing east coast suggests cold can spark an intellectual awakening’ SARAH CROWN, GUARDIAN

‘Katy speaks with a charm and directness that remains as fresh as when it was written’ AMANDA CRAIG

When Katy Carr and her sister Clover leave for boarding school, they are weighed down by worry. How will their father manage without their help? Can they ever hope to fit in and make new friends? When the Carr girls arrive, they meet the principal, Mrs Florence, who is tall, dignified and very strict: there are no less than thirty-two rules that students must adhere to! And with Miss Jane always on the prowl to discover the slightest fault, Katy fears that it might be more difficult to stay out of trouble than she’d hoped. But then she meets Rose Red – irrepressible, unconventional and always full of fun. With the right friends, Katy can’t help but get into all sorts of scrapes.

A collection that will be coveted by children and adults alike, this list is the best in children’s literature curated by Virago. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), L. M. Montgomery (The Anne of Green Gables series) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.

BY THE BELOVED AUTHOR OF CARRIE’S WAR AND THE PEPPERMINT PIG

‘A subtle and many-layered story, one of Nina Bawden’s best’ OBSERVER

‘What a consummate storymaker Nina Bawden is’ MICHAEL MORPURGO

‘The hay stirred. There was a small nibbling sound. A furry head poked out. I saw its dark, beady eyes, its sharp, pointed ears … his eyes seemed alert and inquisitive, as if he were as interested in us as we were in him.’

Henry is only three inches long when naughty Charlie catapults him out of his nest – a poor baby red squirrel, all ragged and skinny. He is too young to survive being released into the wild, but can a squirrel be a pet?

Henry’s new human family has also had to adapt to a different way of life. Evacuated from London during the Blitz, to a farm in Wales, they were upturned from their old life just as Henry was ‘tipped out’ of his nest. Can this mischievous little creature, who makes nests out of their clothes and runs up the children like they are trees, help them to settle into their new life?

A collection that will be coveted by children and adults alike, this list is the best in children’s literature, curated by Virago. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden), E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), L. M. Montgomery (The Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.

‘As soon as I started to read it, I was hooked’ GUARDIAN

‘One of my all-time favourite books . . . It’s a wonderful book’ JACQUELINE WILSON

‘Katy speaks with a charm and directness that remains as fresh as when it was written’ AMANDA CRAIG

‘Europe beckoned more brilliantly now that they were fairly embarked on their journey. The sun shone, the lake was a beautiful, dazzling blue, and Katy said to herself, “After all, a year is not very long, and how happy I am going to be!”‘

When Mrs Ashe discovers that her visiting nephew has scarlet fever, she sends her young daughter Amy to stay with the Carr family. There, Amy develops a strong attachment to Katy who treats her like a little sister. Mrs Ashe, grateful for the kindness Katy has shown, invites her to join them on a year-long trip around Europe. Katy is at first reluctant – a year is a long time to be away from her family – but soon she gets swept up in the adventure which takes her from the historic (but rainy) London streets to the beautiful cities of Nice, Paris and Naples. And perhaps Katy, now a young woman, will discover love.

A collection that will be coveted by children and adults alike, this list is the best in children’s literature, curated by Virago. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), L. M. Montgomery (The Anne of Green Gables series) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.

WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S FICTION

‘Warm and funny, this tale of a pint-size pig and the family he saves will take up a giant space in your heart’ KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE

‘What a consummate storymaker Nina Bawden is’ MICHAEL MORPURGO

‘Nina Bawden is a master at capturing the taste of growing up’ NEW YORK TIMES

‘D’ya want a peppermint pig, Mrs Greengrass?’
Poll looked at the milkman, thinking of sweets, but there was a real pig poking its snout out of the milkman’s coat pocket. It was the tiniest pig she had ever seen. ‘What’s a peppermint pig?’
‘Runt of the litter. Too small for the sow to raise. He’d only get trampled in in the rush.’
Mother took the pig from him and held it firmly while it kicked and squealed. ‘Well, he seems strong enough. And even runts grow.’
‘Oh,’ Poll said. ‘Oh, Mother.’ She stroked the small, wriggling body. ‘Theo,’ she shouted, ‘Look what we’ve got!’

It is a difficult year for the Greengrasses. Poll’s father has lost his job and gone overseas, the family are living off the charity of two aunts, and Poll and her brother Theo just can’t seem to keep out of trouble. It takes a tiny, mischievous pig to bring laughter back into their lives.

This is a collection of the best children’s literature, curated by Virago, and will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving), E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Little Princess,The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.

A timeless Cinderella story, A Little Princess is one of the best-loved children’s classics of all time. A heartwarming tale that champions the power of imagination.

‘I’d read Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden and loved it – so I tried A Little Princess and liked it even more!’ JACQUELINE WILSON

‘Sara Crewe is a Cinderella figure . . . She is intelligent and good humoured with an infectious warmth that embraces the lowliest of her new acquaintances. The sunshine continues when impoverishment and drudgery befall her and she relies on her private fantasies to preserve her natural zest for life’ GUARDIAN

‘It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.’

When Sara Crewe is sent to Miss Minchin’s school for young ladies, her indulgent father provides for her as if she were a little princess. But although her toys and clothes are the envy of the other girls, Sara’s kindness and gift for storytelling soon win her lots of friends. Then, the tragic news arrives that her father has died penniless and, without wealth or a guardian, Sara is at the mercy of Miss Minchin. Forced to work from dawn until dusk as the school’s unpaid servant, she looks over the rooftops from her damp attic room and dreams of a better life. All is not lost: she has friends, courage and imagination – maybe that’s all she really needs.

A collection that will be coveted by children and adults alike, this list is the best in children’s literature, curated by Virago. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), L. M. Montgomery (The Anne of Green Gables series) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.

‘The mystery element kept me turning the pages but it was the superb characterisation that made the story stay with me. It taught me that it’s never too late to remake yourself into someone better’ MALORIE BLACKMAN, TELEGRAPH

‘The Secret Garden should be on every child’s bookshelf’ THE TIMES

‘There is an old-fashioned tenderness and joy to it; the sense that magic happens if you are observant and quiet and know it will’ SOPHIE DAHL

‘A blend of power, beauty, vivid interest and honest goodness. Yes, if this is magic, it is good magic’ NEW YORK TIMES

‘She put her hand in her pocket, drew out the key, and found it fitted the keyhole . . . she held back the swinging curtain of ivy and pushed back the door which opened slowly. Then she slipped through it, looking about her and breathing quite fast with excitement and wonder and delight. She was standing inside the secret garden’

Everybody at Misselthwaite Manor agrees that Mary Lennox is the most disagreeable child they have ever met. Pale, selfish and spoilt, the ten-year-old orphan has been sent from India to her uncle’s estate and she is determined to hate everything about it. But the isolated house on the Yorkshire moors holds secrets that Mary cannot resist exploring: pitiful crying that echoes down the corridors at night and a hidden walled garden. When a robin leads Mary to the buried key, not only is the garden unlocked, but also her heart. And as the garden blooms, for the first time in her life, Mary discovers friendship. This is where the magic begins . . .

A collection that will be coveted by children and adults alike, this list is the best in children’s literature, curated by Virago. These are timeless tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie’s War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), L. M. Montgomery (The Anne of Green Gables series) and Susan Coolidge (The What Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children’s Classics.