This intriguing debut novel, structured in movements like a classical symphony, follows a group of day-trippers on a tour of places significant to the life of court composer Haydn. At its centre is widower Edward, travelling with his two young children in the hope of introducing them to music and bringing them closer to the memory of their late mother, a violinist. As the day progresses the tourists begin to behave like courtiers gossiping, flirting, and plotting. A comedy of manias unfolds as Edward struggles to protect himself and his children from the strange behaviour and events around them, including the woman who believes she is the reincarnation of Mozart and the appearance of what others are convinced is a ghost. This Farewell Symphony is the winner of the Impress Prize for New Writers, 2010.

Our Book of The Year

VIII is the story of Hal: a young, handsome, gifted warrior, who believes he has been chosen to lead his people. But he is plagued by the ghosts of his family’s violent past and, once he rises to power, he turns to murder and rapacious cruelty. He is Henry VIII.

The Tudors have always captured the popular imagination, but in VIII, Henry is presented fresh for a new generation. H M Castor does for Henry what Hilary Mantel did for Thomas Cromwell – VIII is Wolf Hall for the teen and crossover market. The contemporary, original writing style will have broad appeal and VIII brings the tension of a psychological thriller and the eeriness of a ghost story to historical fiction.

” Great stuff…exciting, fascinating and surprisingly scary” Charlie Higson

H. M. Castor has been obsessed with the Tudors since primary school. She studied Tudor History at Cambridge University, and despite spending time after that doing a variety of jobs – including teaching English in Prague. The Tudors have never lost their hold on her. In particular she has been fascinated by the story of Henry VIII. “I’ve read a great deal about his life,” she says, “but still a huge question has remained: just how does this extraordinary boy become one of the most villainous kings in British history? He is hugely talented, has astonishing warrior skills, and is said to be a model of virtue. So what turns him into a monster? In writing VIII I’ve set out to answer that question.” H. M. Castor has written many younger fiction and non fiction titles for HarperCollins, A&C Black, Carlton, Puffin and Usborne. VIII is her first novel for teenagers. She lives in Bristol with her husband and two daughters.

From birds, mammals and fish to trees, flowers and insects, the richness of the British natural world is explored through a stunning collection of the very best in wildlife poetry. Traditional verses sit alongside contemporary classics and specially commissioned new work by some of Britain’s top poets. This family-friendly anthology includes many lively poems with real child-appeal along with more mature works, while fantastic full colour and black and white illustrations make this book a pleasure to browse.

Beautifully crafted and produced in consultation with the RSPB, this perfect gift is a treasure trove of poetic delights!

This is a compellingly original illustrated chronicle of two thousand years of British history, recounted via the stories of one hundred landmark documents that changed the face of Britain. In “Britannia”, Graham Stewart traces two thousand years of an island’s story – from Roman province to twenty-first century European nation-state – through one hundred historic documents. From the eighth-century Lindisfarne Gospels to the great testament of Norman bureaucracy, the Domesday Book, and from the designs for the Union Jack in 1606 to Neville Chamberlain’s 1938 Munich agreement with Hitler, the documents selected embrace a wide range of national endeavours: politics and religion, warfare and diplomacy, economics and the law, science and invention, literature and journalism, as well as sport and popular music.

Thus the first edition of “The Times” rubs shoulders with the rules of the newly formed Marylebone Cricket Club; the designs for Stephenson’s “Rocket with the Catholic Emancipation Act”; Lord Kitchener’s iconic First World War recruitment poster with Clause Four of the Labour Party’s constitution; and, the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper” album cover with Britain’s accession treaty to the European Economic Community. These are documents that not only defined their own eras, but which continue to resonate today: Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights became vital legal curtailments of arbitrary royal power; medieval election writs and nineteenth-century reform acts shaped the creation of parliamentary democracy; the great translations of the Bible, the plays of Shakespeare and Dr Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary have left indelible marks on the English language; while the influence of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations continues to guide how we do business.

Stylishly written and generously illustrated (including numerous reproductions of the documents themselves, twenty-four of them in full colour), “Britannia” belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who is curious to learn more about the historic roots of our culture, society, language, religious traditions and political institutions.

Charlie Bucket loves CHOCOLATE. And Mr Willy Wonka, the most wondrous inventor in the world, is opening the gates of his amazing chocolate factory to five lucky children. It’s the prize of a lifetime! Gobstoppers, wriggle sweets and a river of melted chocolate delight await – Charlie needs just one Golden Ticket and these delicious treats could be all his.

 Now YOU can step inside and see for yourself! This is your Golden Ticket to explore Willy Wonka’s AMAZING world with this unique pop-up edition of Roald Dahl’s much-loved story.