In 1776 Foote's was the most talked-of name in the English-speaking world. By 1777 it was almost unmentionable. Samuel Foote friend of David Garrick & Dr Johnson is the greatest lost figure of the eighteenth century; his story defies belief & has only been forgotten for reasons both laughable & shocking. Foote's rise to fame was based on three unrelated accidents: his extraordinary gifts as an impressionist a murder within his family which he turned into a true-crime bestseller & the loss of his leg after a disastrous practical joke. Out of this was born the most singular career in stage history. He flouted convention in transvestite roles evaded the censors by selling his scurrilous satires as ' Tea Parties' wrote a series of plays for one-legged actors -- accordingly not much revived -- & established London's Theatre Royal Haymarket. Then came two scandalous trials that rocked Georgian high society. Trials of such magnitude they kept America's Declaration of Independence from the front pages of the London papers. In a unique conflation of biography & social & medical history award-winning historian Ian Kelly uncovers the hidden world of 'the Hogarth of the stage'. From Sheridan to Dickens to Dudley Moore Foote's influence continues but Mr Foote's Other Leg is not just a tragicomic tale of this Oscar Wilde of the eighteenth century it is also the story of the first media storm the first true-crime bestseller the first victim of celebrity culture & a joyous hop around the mad theatre of London life -- high & low. ...

Oyeyemi reveals a twinkling sense of humour.. .A delight Independent Its a bright afternoon in 1938 & Mary Foxe is in a confrontational mood. St John Fox celebrated novelist hasnt seen her in six years. Hes unprepared for her afternoon visit not least because she doesnt exist. Hes infatuated with her. But he also made her up. Youre a villain " she tells him. "A serial killer.. .can you grasp that?" Will Mr Fox meet his muses challenge to stop murdering his heroines & explore something of love? What will his wife Daphne think of this sudden change in her husband? Can there be a happy ending -- this time? Oyeyemis characters almost dance on their pages. This is her best most beautiful novel yet Independent on Sunday Funny deep shocking wry heart-warming & spine-chilling Guardian Funny & fresh piercingly astute Daily Telegraph Not just vibrantly imaginative but filled with wit & wisdom. Her best book so far. Metro" ...

Kate Winslet reads the second riotously funny book in the Mr Gum series by Andy Stanton. Good evening. OK this books a bit hard to describe. Theres this gingerbread man with electric muscles see? & hes as rich as a mushroom right? & Mr Gum & Billy William are planning to get the cash yeah? & its up to Polly to save the day. & theres a funfair & hot dogs & Friday OLeary shouts out some crazy stuff &...hey that wasnt so hard to describe after all. SEE YA! ...

An irresistible laughter-inducing romp
- Sunday Times Good evening." Ok this books a bit hard to describe. Theres this gingerbread
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Mr Gum returns in the fifth shamelessly hilarious book... Good evening. Do you like bears called Padlock? Course you do. Do you like hot-air balloons? Course you do. Do you like tall sailing ships with mad sea captains & horrifying old villains & words like wab! tungler & kelp? COURSE you do! Well guess what you lucky little nibbleheads? This books got all of those things
- & a lot more besides. Its a rollicker! Its a frolicker! Its a funtime sun-time yollicker! So what you waiting for? Get reading!
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Follow Polly & Friday on another crazy adventure on the streets of Lamonic Bibber. & watch out for that dastardly villain Mr Gum not to mention his sidekick Billy William. But what could that fiend be up to this time? Could there be 8 ladies all called Pamela? Will Friday OLeary have to wrestle a man-eating Octopus? Who knows? Either way itll be barking bonkers. But dont believe us believe them... ...

A collectors' box set including the first four titles in the popular Mr. Gum" series all read by the wonderful Kate Winslet & including music & sound effects: " You're a Bad Man Mr. Gum" Mr. Gum is a complete horror who hates children animals fun & corn on the cob. This book's all about him. & an angry fairy who lives in his bathtub; & Jake the dog (who must be saved from terrible terrible evil); & a little girl called Polly; & an evil stinky butcher who's all covered in guts. & there's heroes & sweets & adventures & a massive fat bloke called Jonathan Ripples & EVERYTHING... " Mr. Gum & the Biscuit Billionaire" OK this book's a bit hard to describe. There's this gingerbread man with electric muscles see? & he's as rich as a mushroom right? & Mr. Gum & Billy William are planning to get the cash yeah? & it's up to Polly to save the day. & there's a funfair & hot dogs & Friday O' Leary shouts out some crazy stuff &... hey that wasn't so hard to describe after all. Mr. Gum is back & as nasty as ever in this second hilarious story. " Mr. Gum & the Power Crystals" Shabba me whiskers! Can it really be true that there's an ancient curse on the town of Lamonic Bibber? & you guessed it that old roo-de-lally Mr Gum & his trusty sidekick Billy William the Third have something to do with it. But...our favorite heroes Polly & Friday & the gingerbread biscuit Alan Taylor are determined to save the town (sigh of relief). Hang onto your heads & prepare to chuckle like a chipmunk as you are whisked to the land of talking dogs silly songs Old Granny & the best chase scene you've ever seen. You may even learn to say " The truth is a lemon meringue" in Spanish! This is barking bonkers... " Mr. Gum & the Goblins" Well that old roo-de-lally Mr. Gum & the hideous Billy William the Third are once more mucking things up for everyone. They're a-schemin' & a-hatchin' & making their bad plans up on Goblin Mountain. Can the wise old man Friday O' Leary & the small girl Polly make it past the Three Impossible Challenges of Goblin Mountain & save the town from a fate worse than something very bad indeed? In an epic tale of courage valor & plain idiocy only one thing is sure: The truth is a lemon meringue!" ...

Step once more into Lamonic Bibber my friends
- if you dare. In the dead of night when all the stars are sleeping & the moons nipped
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Description Step once more into Lamonic Bibber my friends
- if you dare. In the dead of night when all the stars are sleeping &
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One day Mr Gumpy decides to take a trip along the river in his boat
- the only thing is that everyone else wants to come to! Soon
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