'I love her books - particularly the Five Children and It
sequence' - Neil Gaiman
THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK IN THE PSAMMEAD TRILOGY, FOLLOWING FIVE
CHILDREN AND IT
Contains all of the original illustrations by H. R. Millar, beautifully
reproduced.
'For the egg was now red-hot, and inside it something was moving. Next
moment there was a soft cracking sound; the egg burst in two, and out of
it came a flame-coloured bird...'
When a stone egg rolls out of the old rug that has been bought for the
nursery, the children think nothing of it. A lovely glowing yellow, they
place it on the mantelpiece to brighten up the room. But when the egg
accidentally drops into the fire, a strange thing happens: out hatches a
phoenix, resplendent in golden feathers - and very vain. If that weren't
enough of a surprise, it tells them that their carpet is magic: it will
take them to any place that they wish to visit - over their dusty London
streets to the French coast, to tropical islands and an Indian bazaar.
Guiding them throughout their adventures - though he's often more a
hindrance than a help - is their new friend, the phoenix.
'The cheerful, child-centred anarchy of Five Children and It is
still my inspiration and delight' Kate Saunders, Guardian
'My all-time favourite classic children's author' Jacqueline Wilson
'If Britain is to children's fantasy as Brazil is to football, then
Edith Nesbit is our Pele - endlessly surprising and inventive. But she
is more than that. There were fantasy writers before Edith Nesbit but
she is the one that brought the magical and the mundane together in a
moment of nuclear fusion. She opened the door in the magic wardrobe,
pointed the way to platform nine and three quarters. She even had a hand
in building the Tardis. And these are among her minor achievements. She
is also simply the funniest writer we have ever had, while being the one
who could most easily and sweetly break your heart with a phrase. Just
try saying Daddy oh my Daddy without catching your breath. She made the
magic worlds feel as near as the Lewisham Road and she bathed the
Lewisham Road in magic' Frank Cottrell-Boyce
This collection of the best in children's literature, curated by
Virago, will be coveted by children and adults alike. These are timeless
tales with beautiful covers, that will be treasured and shared across
the generations. Some titles you will already know; some will be new to
you, but there are stories for everyone to love, whatever your age. Our
list includes Nina Bawden (Carrie's War, The Peppermint Pig), Rumer
Godden (The Dark Horse, An Episode of Sparrows), Joan Aiken (The
Serial Garden, The Gift Giving) E. Nesbit (The Psammead Trilogy, The
Bastable Trilogy, The Railway Children), Frances Hodgson Burnett (The
Little Princess, The Secret Garden) and Susan Coolidge (The What
Katy Did Trilogy). Discover Virago Children's Classics.
