Miguel de Cervantes's mock-epic masterwork Don Quixote" was voted the greatest book of all time by the Nobel Institute & this " Penguin Classics" edition is translated with an introduction & notes by John Rutherford. " Don Quixote" has become so entranced by reading romances of chivalry that he determines to become a knight errant & pursue bold adventures accompanied by his squire the cunning Sancho Panza. As they roam the world together the aging Quixote's fancy leads them wildly astray tilting at windmills fighting with friars & distorting the rural Spanish landscape into a fantasy of impenetrable fortresses & wicked sorcerers. At the same time the relationship between the two men grows in fascinating subtlety. Often considered to be the first modern novel " Don Quixote" is a wonderful burlesque of the popular literature its disordered protagonist is obsessed with. John Rutherford's landmark translation does full justice to the energy & wit of Cervantes' prose & this edition of " Don Quixote" won the 2002 Premio Valle Inclan prize for translation. His introduction discusses the traditional works parodied in " Don Quixote" & issues of literary translation. Miguel de Cervantes Saaverda's (1547-1616) life was occupied with a struggle to earn a livelihood from literature & humble government employment. As well as " Don Quixote" he wrote a number of plays & a collection of highly accomplished short stories " Exemplary Tales" (1613). If you enjoyed " Don Quixote" you might like Homer's " Odyssey" also available in " Penguin Classics". " John Rutherford makes " Don Quixote" funny & readable.. . His Quixote can be pompous imposingly learned secretly fearful mad & touching". (Colin Burrow " The Times Literary Supplement")." ...

This is a new title in the Usborne Reading Programme" based on the famous Russian folktale which is aimed at children whose reading ability & confidence allows them to tackle longer & more complex stories. Don Quixote has read so many books about knights & wizards damsels & elves he's gone completely nuts & wants to be a knight himself. Recruiting Sancho Panza as his squire he sets off on an adventure that has amazed readers for centuries. It is developed in consultation with Alison Kelly who is a senior lecturer in education & an early reading specialist from Roehampton University." ...

Dortmunder has a job offer. Hes been hired by third parties to pull off heists in the past but never to lay his hands on anything this peculiar. It is the 800 year old femur of a 16-year-old girl who who having been killed & eaten by her own family was made a saint by the Church. Now two European countries & the Catholic church are fighting like dogs over it. This bone the femur of St Ferghana is a holy relic claimed by two newly-created European nations Tsergovia & Votskojek. The relic will be awarded to one of the two countries which will then be admitted to the United Nations. Dortmunder & his gang are working for the Tersgovians. As usual nothing goes according to plan. How will this free-for-all end? Dont ask. ...

Its a dreadful shock for Horrid Henry when Perfect Peter is born & despite his best or worst efforts he cant manage to get rid of him. As Peter gets bigger Henry gets crosser. But the day comes when Henry inadvertently finds himself saving Peter from a big fierce dog & discovers that its rather nice to be a hero. ...

Its just an ordinary day at Mother Gooses Academy. Theres Miss Good Fairy teaching the Three Little Pigs Snow White Sleeping Beauty Cinderella Hansel & Gretel & Little Red Riding Hood to read & write
- while Miss Bad Fairy is inciting the Ugly Sisters the Big Bad Wolf Troll Wicked Stepmother Wicked Witch & Jealous Queen to gobble them all up. The result? Chaos! Witty fast-paced & anarchic this is a complete story with ten short chapters (C.A.T. Spells Dog What Troll Learned Snakes & Snails for Lunch) that take us through the school day. Originally published as Big Class Little Class this freshly illustrated reissue brings Francesca Simon & Tony Ross together again in a wonderful romp that Horrid Henry fans will revel in.
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Beth Ward & Tyler Blacklock share a love they know will last forever. But Beths mother Esther is jealous of the girl & seizes an opportunity to be rid of her daughter. Banished in disgrace from the family home Beth takes the northbound train & alights at Blackburn friendless & alone. On this day Fortune smiles for Beth is taken in by warm-hearted Maisie Armstrong a widow with two children. Money is scarce but love abounds in the cosy house on Larkhill & Beth is content there to await the birth of her child. But she cannot forget Tyler & is tormented by the belief that he has betrayed her... ...

Dont Die Young is a revelatory tour of the human body which accompanied the major BBC2 television series. Focusing on our vital organs- from the beating chambers of the heart to the coiling tunnels of the intestines
- Dr Alice Roberts explains how they work & how to keep them in tip-top condition. There are many aspects of your health that you can control & she explains how you can reduce your risk of suffering many disorders from cystitis to cancer & headaches to heart disease. With authoritative advice amazing photographs & clear diagrams she cuts through the jargon. (What exactly are antioxidants & trans-fatty acids?) This book will change the way you think about your body & you will be better equipped to combat disease
- & to treat any health advice with very healthy scepticism.

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When Kate P Green goes for tea with the Queen she gets more than she bargained for in this hilariously anarchic look at the tricky subject of table manners. stunning illustrations & design from the creator of Smile!
- starring Orchards new character Sunny Mc Cloud
- perfectly complement this exceptionally funny rhyming story from a great new author. Although this award-winning book wont teach your child perfect table manners it will provide a witty platform from which the importance of manners & also of enjoying food & mealtimes can be broached.

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Its a grim fact that the world isnt as nice as it used to be. People are ruder more greedy more selfish & more violent. & even though those hardback retro books with flock covers & embossed titles look nice they wont help turn back the clock. Making a tin-can telephone skimming stones & whittling wood isnt going to bring world peace. In fact the world is only made more dangerous by people making their own bunsen burners & careering down hills in home made soap-box carts. Well heres an alternative book for boys -- one that teaches us the joy & pleasure of staying indoors keeping safe & staying out of trouble. Included within is Richards hilarious thoughts on home made fun snooping wholesome entertainment good old fashioned adventure bonding holidays with dad & useful information on the nutters throughout history who have made life much more dangerous for us because of their idiocy. ...

Dad walked determinedly down the path joined by two neighbours with five children between them. As we reached the corner of Kent Avenue I looked back for one last wave. But Mum had buried her head in her pinny & it was a year before I saw her again. In June 1940 10-year-old Pam Hobbs & her sister Iris took the long journey from their council home in Leigh-on-Sea to faraway rural Derbyshire. Living away from Mum & Dad for two long years Pam was moved between four foster homes. In some she & Iris found a second family with babies to look after car rides & picnics & even a pet pig. But other billets took a more sinister turn as the adults found it easy to exploit the children in their care. Returning to Essex things would never be the same again & the war was far from over. Making do with rations dodging bombs & helping with the war effort Pam & her family struggled to get by. In Dont Forget to Write with warmth & vivid detail Pam describes a time that was full of overwhelming hardship & devastation; yet also of kindness & humour resilience & courage. ...