This collection brings together Jane Austen's earliest experiments in the art of fiction & novels that she left incomplete at the time of her premature death in 1817. Her fragmentary juvenilia show Austen developing her own sense of narrative form whilst parodying popular kinds of fiction of her day. Lady Susan is a wickedly funny epistolary novel about a captivating but unscrupulous widow seeking to snare husbands for her daughter & herself. The Watsons explores themes of family relationships the marriage market & attitudes to rank which became the hallmarks of her major novels. In Sanditon Austen exercises her acute powers of social observation in the setting of a newly fashionable seaside resort. These novels are here joined by shorter fictions that survive in Austen's manuscripts including critically acclaimed works like Catharine Love & Freindship [sic] & The History of Engl&. ...

Such was the power of the BEAUTY INSIDE her that Winter turned to Spring in her path & flowers grew in her footsteps. Edward Monkton's verse dedicated to an extraordinary woman whose incredible gift was to radiate beauty from within! perfect for Mother's Day. Edward Monkton books are highly collectable & stylish gifts-- at home on a coffee table in the bathroom in quiet places & perfect for giving to a loved one or for keeping for yourself. This is a charming portrait of an amazing woman whose inner beauty turned Winter into Spring. A lovely lyrical story The Lady who was Beautiful Inside celebrates those who deserve praise most. Each book in this new series is an original story charmingly illustrated & created especially for this br&-new series of gift books. H&-lettered in the same style as the Edward Monkton cards by the Really Good company the tales are wonderfully packaged with the utmost style & attention to detail to make these hugely desirable objects & perfect gifts for special occasions. These creations prove there is a universal & enduring audience for stories that inspire & touch hearts. Their philosophy is to heal unite amuse & delight in equal measures. ...

The Lady with the Little Dog & Other Stories 1896-1904" is an enchanting collection of tales which showcase Anton Chekhov at the height of his power as a writer. This " Penguin Classics" edition is translated by Ronald Wilks with an introduction by Paul Debreczeny. In the final years of his life Chekhov produced some of the stories that rank among his masterpieces & some of the most highly-regarded works in Russian literature. The poignant " The Lady with the Little Dog" & " About Love" examine the nature of love outside of marriage
- its romantic idealism & the fear of disillusionment. & in stories such as " Peasants" " The House with the Mezzanine" & " My Life" Chekhov paints a vivid picture of the conditions of the poor & of their powerlessness in the face of exploitation & hardship. With the works collected here Chekhov moved away from the realism of his earlier tales
- developing a broader range of characters & subject matter while forging the spare minimalist style that would inspire such modern short-story writers as Ernest Hemingway & William Faulkner. Ronald Wilks's translation is accompanied by an introduction in which Paul Debreczeny discusses the themes that Chekhov adopted in his mature work. This edition also

Includes:: a publishing history & notes for each story a chronology & further reading. Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was born in Taganrog a port on the sea of Azov. In 1879 he travelled to Moscow where he entered the medical faculty of the university graduating in 1884. During his university years he supported his family by contributing humorous stories & sketches to magazines. He published his first volume of stories " Motley Tales" in 1886 & a year later his second volume " In the Twilight" for which he received the Pushkin Prize. Today his plays including " Uncle Vanya" " The Seagull" & " The Cherry Orchard" are recognised as masterpieces the world over. If you enjoyed " The Lady with the Little Dog" you might like Leo Tolstoy's " The Death of Ivan Ilyich & Other Stories" also available in " Penguin Classics"."



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London 1844 & a shy young woman has arrived to take up a new position in the grandeur of No. 50 Wimpole Street. Subtly & compellingly Lady's Maid gives voice to Elizabeth Wilson's untold story her complex relationship with her mistress Elizabeth Barrett & her dramatic role in the most famous elopement in history. ...

In the quiet of a warm summer evening two young mothers are forced to give up their babies. Whilst Kate grows up knowing only poverty & servitude Josie's world is one of privilege & luxury. Despite the differences in their circumstances Kate & Josie have been friends since childhood. But their past binds them together in ways they must never know. Until a chance meeting forces Kate & Josie to confront the truth of that night nearly twenty years before
- a truth that turns both worlds upside down & threatens to destroy their friendship forever...
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Ahoy there! Welcome to Skullabones Island! Meet Captain Cutlass & his loyal crew including Toolbox Tom & Lookout Lil in this exciting eight button sound book from Ladybirds Big Noisy Book" range. There are five different pirate tales throughout with cues to press the sound buttons & help the story along. From dancing to pirate music & hearing the parrots squawk to firing a cannon or booing the horrid Stinkyfish Gang theres noisy pirate fun galore." ...

A Ladybird Book about Knitting" is a gem from the " Ladybird" vintage archive here reissued as a facsimile edition for the first time in forty years. First published in 1972 this is a classic " Ladybird" hardback book designed to teach knitting through simple instructions & clear pictures. The reader is taken step by step through the beginnings of knitting & at each stage a useful article can be made to add to the sense of achievement. This is a perfect gift for " Ladybird" & knitting enthusiasts alike." ...

This is an educational book all about England's Kings & Queens from Ladybird. The Ladybird Book of Kings & Queens" is the ideal first reference book for primary school children. It is packed with information about England's monarchs in chronological order including King Henry VIII Queen Elizabeth I & Queen Victoria. Full of fascinating facts this handy book will help school children with their history studies. It

Includes:: a weblink to a free downloadable chart showing a timeline of Kings & Queens of Engl&. Ladybird publishes the very best books for babies & toddlers
- colourful & engaging they encourage early interaction with books & the wider world. Watch your little one have fun & learn with Ladybird from their very first book until they start school. Look out for all the classic " Ladybird" series
- there is a Ladybird book for every age & every stage.
Includes:: " Baby Touch"; " Toddler Touch"; " Busy"; " First Favourite Tales"; " Read It Yourself"; " Topsy & Tim"; & " Key Words With Peter & Jane"."




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The Ladybird Book of London" is a gem from the Ladybird vintage archive. First published in 1961 this is a classic Ladybird hardback book packed with information about Britains capital. This new edition is exactly the same as the original with a dust jacket & beautifully reproduced images. The story of London her sights & history is illustrated with twenty-four beautiful full-page pictures. Starting from Trafalgar Square this book takes you through famous streets to see historic buildings to learn something of the story of Britains famous capital. Westminster Abbey & St Pauls Cathedral the Tower Guildhall & the City Hampton Court & Kew Gardens the Zoo & Madame Tussauds
- they are all here."
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This beautiful hardback Ladybird Classic edition of Alice in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll is a perfect first illustrated introduction to the classic story for younger readers. It has been sensitively abridged & retold to make it suitable for sharing with young children from 5+ whilst retaining all the best-loved parts of the " Alice in Wonderland" story such as the White Rabbit the Queen of Hearts the Mad Hatter & the Cheshire Cat. Beautiful full-colour illustrations throughout also help to bring all of these classic characters to life. Other exciting titles in the " Ladybird Classics" series include " Treasure Island" " Black Beauty" " The Secret Garden" " Oliver Twist" & " Gullivers Travels"." ...