The Notting Hill Mystery was first published between 1862 & 1863 as an eight-part serial in the magazine Once a Week, written under the pseudonym Charles Felix. It has been widely described as the first detective novel, pre-dating as it does other novels such as Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone (1868) & Emile Gaboriau's first Monsieur Lecoq novel (1869) that have previously claimed that accolade. The story is told by insurance investigator Ralph Henderson, who is building a case against the sinister Baron 'R___', suspected of murdering his wife in order to obtain significant life insurance payments. Henderson descends into a maze of intrigue including a diabolical mesmerist, kidnapping by gypsies, slow-poisoners, a rich uncle's will & three murders. Presented in the form of diary entries, family letters, chemical analysis reports, interviews with witnesses & a crime scene map, the novel displays innovative techniques that would not become common features of detective fiction until the 1920s. Now made available again, with George du Maurier's original illustrations included for the first time since the original serial publication, this new edition of The Notting Hill Mystery will be welcomed by all fans of detective fiction. ...

The Notting Hill Mystery has been widely described as the first detective novel. The story is told by the insurance investigator Ralph Henderson, who is building a case against the sinister Baron R___, suspected of murdering his wife in order to claim her life insurance. Henderson descends into a maze of intrigue, including a diabolical mesmerist, kidnapping by gypsies, slow-poisoners, a rich uncle`s will & three murders. Presented in the form of diary entries, family letters, chemical analysis reports, interviews with witnesses & a crime scene map, the novel displays innovative techniques that would not become common features of detective fiction until the 1920s. This novel launched the British Library Crime Classics series in 2012, & is now reissued with a striking new cover design ...

” Witty, engaging & informative. The sort of book you choose for a friend & end up wanting to keep.” (Rachel Joyce). ” Ideal for anyone who has ever wondered what on earth to read next.” (S J Watson). ” Brilliant...a perfect gift.” (Vogue). This is a medical handbook, with a difference. Whether you have a stubbed toe or a severe case of the blues, within these pages you`ll find a cure in the form of a novel to help ease your pain. You`ll also find advice on how to tackle common reading ailments
- such as what to do when you feel overwhelmed by the number of books in the world, or you have a tendency to give up halfway through. When read at the right moment, a novel can change your life, & The Novel Cure is an enchanting reminder of that power.
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When read at the right moment, a novel can change your life. Bibliotherapists Ella Berthoud & Susan Elderkin know the power of a good book, & have been prescribing each other literary remedies for all life`s aches & pains for decades. Together, they`ve compiled a medical handbook with a difference: a dictionary of literary cures for any malaise you can imagine. Whether it`s struggling to find a good cup of tea (Douglas Adams, two sugars) or being in need of a good cry (Thomas Hardy, plus tissues), as well as cures for all kinds of reading ailments
- from being a compulsive book buyer to a tendency to give up halfway through a novel
- Ella & Susan have the tonic for all ailments, great or small. Written with authority, passion & wit, The Novel Cure is an enchanting reminder of the power & pleasure of forgetting your troubles in a good book.

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Isabel Dalhousie is one of Edinburgh`s most generous (but discreet) philanthropists
- but should she be more charitable? She wonders,
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Could George`s escape away from his pesky brothers be a bit too successful? An ode to imagination
- & annoying but indispensable
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”I wrote to Macmillan to suggest a new idea: a ` Nursery Edition` of Alice with pictures printed in.” Lewis Carroll`s diary, 15th February, 1881 The Nursery Alice, originally published by Macmillan & Co. in 1890, was the very first colour edition of Alice. It was intended, wrote Carroll, ”to be read by Children aged from Nought to Five. To be read? Nay, not so! Say rather to be thumbed, to be cooed over, to be dogs`-eared, to be rumpled, to be kissed...” With this new, younger readership in mind, Carroll rewrote Alice, simplifying & abridging the original text, while Tenniel redrew, enlarged & coloured twenty of his iconic illustrations. The resulting book is a delightfully engaging experience, readers prompted to interact not only with the story but also with the images & even the physical book itself, in a way that is thoroughly modern. Gloriously reproduced for the anniversary year, the present edition retains the every word of the original & restores the exquisite delicacy of Tenniel`s artwork
- lost in reproductions across the decades
- along with the delightful cover artwork by Emily Gertrude Thomson. This gem of a book is the perfect introduction to Alice, a delight for readers of every age.

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This is the story that inspired the legendary ballet, presented in a beautiful hardcover edition perfect for giving as a gift. Written in 1816 by the German Romantic E. T. A. Hoffmann for his children, nephews & nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child`s wonder at Christmas. Since its publication, it has inspired hundreds of artists & adaptations, most notably the legendary ballet, scored by Russian composer Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Today, the story
- & its enchanting images of sugar plums & nutcrackers, mistletoe & the Kingdom of the Dolls
- continues to cast its fantastical spell on readers of all ages. E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822) was one of the major figures of European Romanticism, specializing in tales of the fantastical & uncanny. He was also a music critic, jurist, composer & caricaturist. His Tales of Hoffmann, available in Penguin Classics,

Includes:: such masterpieces as ` Mademoiselle de Scudery`, one of the earliest example of crime fiction, & Hoffmann`s terrifying version of ` The Sandman`. Joachim Neugroschel won three PEN translation awards & the French-American Foundation Translation Prize. He translated Thomas Mann`s Death in Venice & Sacher-Masoch`s Venus in Furs, among other works, for Penguin Classics.



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The magic of Tchaikovsky`s ballet The Nutcracker comes to life in this theatrical pop-up book created by papercut artist Shobhna Patel, whose delicate laser-cut pop-ups will enchant readers young & old. Patel has invented a new paper-engineering technique called the ”paperscope, ” which is used for the first time in this charming book. The classic story begins on Christmas Eve when a little girl named Clara & her brother Fritz are gathered around the Christmas tree to celebrate with family & friends. Their mysterious uncle, Drosselmeyer the toy maker, gives Clara a beautiful wooden nutcracker who magically comes to life when the clock strikes midnight. So begins an enchanting adventure featuring all of Tchaikovsky`s original characters: the soldier mice, the Sugar Plum Fairy, & of course a handsome prince. The Nutcracker is made all the more extraordinary by Patel`s intricate laser-cut illustrations. The book features four pop-up paperscopes that spring to life when the reader presses each paperscope down with their hand to reveal the scene hidden within. The effect is one of a magical series of stage sets, recalling the story`s origins as a ballet. ...

A beautiful telling of the Nutcracker fairy tale, with exciting activities, colouring pages & a gorgeous eight-card 3D colouring scene to decorate, assemble & display
- all in one book! Join Clara as she brings the Nutcracker to life, battles the Mouse King & journeys to the land of the sweets! With activities on every page, this charming series brings new life to the beloved classic story with an exquisite 3D tableau scene that little girls will love to colour & make. Decorate dresses, journey through mazes & design necklaces to help Clara save Christmas. The perfect gift for girls who love magic & ballet, this delicate & lovely colouring & activity book will enchant & delight again & again
- Beauty & the Beast is also available in this 3D Colouring & Activity series. Ideal for fans of Sticker Dolly Dressing & Usborne`s Doll`s House Sticker Book.

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