1923 Maria Vittoria is embroidering a sheet for her dowry trunk. Her father has gone to find her a husb&. He`s taken his mule, a photograph & a pack of food: home-made sopressa sausage, cold polenta, a little flask of wine
- no need to take water
- the world is full of water. There are no eligible men in this valley or the next one, & her father will not let her marry just anyone, & now, despite Maria`s years, she is still healthy. Her betrothed will see all that. He`ll be looking for a woman who can do the work. Maria can do the work. Everyone in the contra says that. And the Lord knows Maria will need to be able to work. Fascism blooms as crops ripen, the state craves babies just as the babies cry for food. Maria faces a stony path, but one she will surely climb to the summit. In this sumptuous & elegant novel you will taste the bigoli co l`arna, touch the mulberry leaves cut finer than organdie, & feel the strain of one woman attempting to keep her family safe in the most dangerous of times.

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Helen Stancey`s debut collection of short stories more than rival her well received novels, Words & Common Ground. The Madonna of the Pool is a fantastic collection of short stories which explore the triumphs, compromises & quiet disappointments of everyday life. Drawing on a wide array of characters, Helen Stancey shows how small events, insignificant to some, can resonate deeply in the lives of others. Richly poetic, deeply moving & entirely engaging, these short stories demonstrate an exquisite understanding of human adaptation, endurance &, most of all, optimism. ...

The Maghreb
- the region that today encompasses Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia & Libya
- is a region apart within the larger

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The Magic Faraway Tree is the second story in the Faraway Tree series by the world`s best-loved children`s author, Enid Blyton. When Joe, Beth & Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. & when they discover the Faraway Tree, it proves to be the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them & their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man & Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? Come on an amazing adventure
- there`ll be adventures waiting whatever happens. Enid Blyton`s funny, magical adventure stories have become true classics, loved by millions & still selling thousands of copies every year. She is arguably the most famous children`s author of all time, thanks to series such as The Wishing-Chair, The Faraway Tree, The Mysteries, The Famous Five & The Secret Seven.
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” This book deserves to be on every child`s bookshelf.” (Junior Design Awards). A deluxe, beautifully-illustrated hardback edition of Enid Blyton`s The Magical Faraway Tree for the 75th anniversary. When Joe, Beth & Frannie climb up to the top of the Faraway Tree, they meet Silky, Moon-Face & the Saucepan Man. Their new friends show them an exciting secret
- how to visit lots of strange & magical lands, where they have many thrilling adventures. Whether they`re exploring the Land of Do-As-You-Please to the Land of Tempers, readers will delight in beautiful, full-colour illustrations from the fantastic Mark Beech. This stunning edition of The Magic Faraway Tree was highly commended in the 2014 Junior Design Awards & shortlisted in the Prima Baby Awards. It is a richly nostalgic offering perfect for bedtime reading. Children aged five & up will fall in love with the Faraway Tree. Look out for the seluxe editions of The Enchanted Wood & Folk of the Faraway Tree. Enid Blyton is arguably the most famous children`s author of all time, thanks to series such as The Wishing-Chair, The Faraway Tree-, The Mysteries, The Famous Five & The Secret Seven. Enid takes her place alongside Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, & A. A. Milne as one of Britain`s true heritage children`s authors. ” Her books were terrific page-turners in the way no others were”. (Michael Morpurgo, author of War Horse).
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”A true genius... Roald Dahl is my hero.” (David Walliams). Phizz-whizzing new branding for the world`s No.1 storyteller, Roald Dahl! Exciting, bold & instantly recognizable with Quentin Blake`s inimitable artwork. Every Saturday morning the Greg family goes off to shoot animals & birds. But the girl who lives next door hates hunting. Now it`s made her so angry she`s Put the Magic Finger on Them All. & very strange things have begun to happen... And now you can listen to The Magic Finger (with the Minpins) & other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams & Steven Fry
- plus there are added squelchy sound effects from Pinewood Studios! Also look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store & Google Play- including the disgusting Twit or Miss! & House of Twits inspired by the revolting Twits.
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Phizzwhizzing new cover look & branding for the World`s NUMBER ONE Storyteller! Every Saturday morning the Greg family goes off to shoot animals & birds. But the girl who lives next door hates hunting. Now it`s made her so angry she`s PUT THE MAGIC FINGER ON THEM ALL. & very strange things have begun to happen... Listen to THE MAGIC FINGER & other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams & Steven Fry
- plus there are added squelchy sound-effects from Pinewood Studios! Look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store & Google Play- including the disgusting TWIT OR MISS! & HOUSE OF TWITS inspired by the revolting Twits.
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Three hidden gems from the world`s best-loved children`s author, Enid Blyton, all rolled into one stunning bumper gift book. ...

`I adored Magic Misfits. This man is far too talented for my liking, & needs to be stopped!` David Walliams The first in a funny & magical new children`s books series from Emmy award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris. `I read this book with excitement, delight, & the increasing suspicion that it was going to make me disappear.` Lemony Snicket, author of the bestselling series A Series of Unfortunate Events & All the Wrong Questions This book contains a BIG SECRET. Read on if you dare... Do you believe in magic? Carter doesn`t. He knows magic tricks are just that
- tricks. & as a street magician he`s also pretty good at them. But then Carter runs away from his conman uncle & he finds himself alone & in danger from dastardly carnival ringleader, B.B. Bosso. He could really use some magic now... A chance encounter with the mysterious Mr Dante Vernon leads Carter to a magic shop, where he teams up with five other like-minded kids & the MAGIC MISFITS are born! Can the gang use their magical talents to save the day & stop B.B. stealing a priceless diamond? And now for the BIG SECRET... Inside this book you will find a treasure trove of tips, codes & stage tricks that will help YOU join the Magic Misfits & make some magic of your own. (BUT DON`T TELL ANYONE.) Perfect for children aged 8 to 12 years old & fans of Lemony Snicket, David Walliams, David Baddiel, My Brother is a Superhero... & magic! Cover illustration by David Litchfield, winner of the Waterstones Children`s Books Prize 2016 for The Bear & the Piano. Neil Patrick Harris is an accomplished actor, producer, director, host, & author. Perhaps best known to audiences for his role as Barney Stinson on the hit comedy series How I Met Your Mother, he is currently starring as Count Olaf in the Netflix adaptation of Lemony Snicket`s A Series of Unfortunate Events. The Magic Misfits is his first book for children.
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The first in a funny & magical new middle grade series from Emmy award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris. Do you believe in magic? Carter doesn`t. He knows magic tricks are just that
- tricks. & as a street magician he`s also pretty good at them. But then Carter runs away from his conman uncle & he finds himself alone & in danger from dastardly carnival ring leader, B.B. Bosso. He could really use some magic now... A chance encounter with the mysterious Mr Dante Vernon leads Carter to a magic shop, where he teams up with five other like-minded kids & the MAGIC MISFITS are born! Can the gang use their magical talents to save the day & stop B.B. stealing a priceless diamond?
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