Classics / Collection
Looking for a lovely book gift for someone? Or you just like to own quality hardback books and limited edition designs? Have a browse at what is available. When we find something lovely, we try to include it here.
Circe ( Anniversary Hardback Edition ), Madeline Miller
£20.00
A FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHORWoman. Witch. Myth.Mortal. Outcast. Lover.
Destroyer. Survivor. CIRCE.
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. Circe is a strange child - not powerful and terrible, like her father, nor gorgeous and mercenary like her mother. Scorned and rejected, Circe grows up in the shadows, at home in neither the world of gods or mortals.
But Circe has a dark power of her own: witchcraft. When her gift threatens the gods, she is banished to the island of Aiaia where she hones her occult craft, casting spells, gathering strange herbs and taming wild beasts. Yet a woman who stands alone will never be left in peace for long - and among her island's guests is an unexpected visitor: the mortal Odysseus, for whom Circe will risk everything.
So Circe sets forth her tale, a vivid, mesmerizing epic of family rivalry, love and loss - the defiant, inextinguishable song of woman burning hot and bright through the darkness of a man's world.
Goddesses and Heroines, Jean Menzies ( hardback July 2023)
£16.99
Goddesses and Heroines : Meet More Than 80 Legendary Women From Around the World
A beautifully illustrated collection of profiles of more than 80 goddesses and other powerful women retold for children aged 7-9. Delve into a world of key female figures from all over the world in this thrilling compendium of goddesses and heroines. With more than 30 stories about goddesses and powerful women, this is a must-have introduction for young readers interested in female figures from different cultures.
This collection of tales for children aged 7-9 includes stories like how Japanese goddess of the dawn Ame-no-Uzume saved the day by dancing and how ancient Greek witch Medea helped to defeat a dragon. The enthralling stories introduce famous figures from around the world, while a handy reference section is packed with information about the goddesses and heroines themselves. Perfect for children aged 7 to 9, this collection contains more than 30 beloved stories retold by award-winning author Dr Jean Menzies, with striking illustrations bringing the tales to life.
A Horse at Night, Amina Caín : On Writing
£9.99
In A Horse at Night, Amina Cain contemplates how to be honest, open and free, as a person and a writer, even (and perhaps especially) during a time of great change. She moves elegantly through a personal canon of authors – including Marguerite Duras, Elena Ferrante and Annie Ernaux – and topics as timely and various as female friendships, neighbourhood coyotes, landscape painting and the politics of excess, to profound and joyous effect.
An individual reckoning with the contemporary moment and a quietly brilliant contribution to the lineage of Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own or William H. Gass’s On Being Blue, A Horse at Night is a virtuosic argument for – and beautiful demonstration of – the essential unity of writing and life.
‘I’ve been finding myself returning again and again to [it], finding wisdom, beauty and recognition in [Cain’s] distilled observations on writing and making art.’ Sophie Mackintosh, author of Cursed Bread
The Panda's Child, Jackie Morris and Cathy Fisher (hardback Oct 23)
£16.99
In a faraway forest a baby is lost and found, protected by a she-panda. Nine years later another baby, the panda's child, is in great danger, and only a boy and the spirit of the forest can save him. This magical, powerful story by Jackie Morris, co-creator of The Lost Words, and award-winning illustrator Cathy Fisher, is a book for all ages to treasure, exploring our most vital connection with wild nature.
It's emotional and enthralling, as well as a great story.
The Ever-Changing Earth, Grahame Baker-Smith (paperback Oct 23)
£7.99
Greenaway award-winner Grahame Baker-Smith guides readers on an unforgettable journey through our Earth's incredible evolution, discovering the planet's forgotten creatures, buried oceans and frozen layers. A small boy imagines life on Earth when dinosaurs ruled, and the sky boomed with the wild beat of pterosaur wings. Then an asteroid fell, changing the world forever.If Kun could go back further in time, he would witness an even bigger collision, when the young Earth was struck by another planet creating our companion moon... Following on from The Rhythm of the Rain and Wild is the Wind, Kate Greenaway award-winner Grahame Baker-Smith explores our ever-changing planet in this beautifully illustrated paperback edition.
Tales of the Greek Heroes, Roger Lancelyn Green (hardback Sept 22)
£14.99
Roger Lancelyn Green's classic retelling of the adventures of the Greek Heroes has been in print for over 60 years and now a stunning Puffin Clothbound edition is available for readers and collectors. Discover the mysterious and exciting legends of the gods and heroes in Ancient Greece, from the adventures of Perseus, the labours of Heracles, the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, to Odysseus and the Trojan wars.
Emperor of Rome, Mary Beard (paperback July 2024)
£30.00
In her international best-seller SPQR, A History of Ancient Rome, Mary Beard told the thousand-year story of ancient Rome.
Now, she shines her spotlight on the emperors who ruled the Roman empire, from Julius Caesar (assassinated 44 BCE) to Alexander Severus (assassinated 235 CE). Emperor of Rome is not your usual chronological account of Roman rulers, one after another: the mad Caligula, the monster Nero, the philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Beard asks bigger questions: What power did emperors actually have? Was the Roman palace really so bloodstained?Emperor of Rome goes directly to the heart of Roman (and our own) fantasies about what it was to be Roman, offering an account of Roman history as it has never been presented before.
BEGIN AGAIN, Oliver Jeffers
£20.00
A powerful, thoughtful and bold comment on humanity and its future from one of today's most thought-provoking artists. In his first picture book created specifically with a wider audience in mind, Oliver Jeffers shares a history of humanity and his dreams for its future. Where are we going? With his bold, exquisite artwork, Oliver Jeffers starts at the dawn of humankind following people on their journey from then until now, and then offers the reader a challenge: where do we go from here? How can we think about the future of the human race more than our individual lives? How can we save ourselves? How can we change our story? Illustrated in his instantly recognisable style, Oliver Jeffers's exploration of the state of the world today is insightful, moving and powerful.
A must-have for every forward-thinking person who wants the next generation to inherit a world to be proud of.
Saga, Vol 1, Brian K Vaughan ( paperback, 2013)
£9.99
Winner of the 2013 Hugo award for Best Graphic Story!When two soldiers from opposite sides of a never-ending galactic war fall inlove, they risk everything to bring a fragile new life into a dangerous olduniverse. From New York Times bestselling writer Brian K. Vaughan (Y:The Last Man, Ex Machina) and critically acclaimed artist FionaStaples (Mystery Society, North 40), Saga is the sweepingtale of one young family fighting to find their place in the worlds.Fantasy andscience fiction are wed like never before in this sexy, subversive drama foradults. This specially priced volume collects the first six issues of the smash-hitseries The Onion A.V. Club calls "the emotional epic Hollywood wishes it couldmake."Voted one of the top graphic novels of the year by the NYT, IGN,the Examiner, and SF Weekly.
Voted Best Comic of the year by MTV Geekand Best New Series by Paradox Comics. Voted a finalist in the GoodReads Best GNof 2012 contest. Named one of Time Magazine's top 10 graphic novels for2013
The Little Prince
£12.99
A sparkling new 80th anniversary hardback edition of this classic fable. A wise and enchanting fable that, in teaching the secret of what is really important in life, has changed the world forever for its readers. Often seen as a symbol of childhood innocence, Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s best-selling book The Little Prince is cherished by children and adults alike across the globe.Ideal for children aged 7 and up. This beautiful new 80th anniversary edition with a glittering foiled cover contains the definitive translation by Katherine Woods and all the original illustrations. The Little Prince joins the ranks of A Little Princess, The Secret Garden & Peter Pan as a genuine children's classic of the twentieth century.
The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings ( classic reissue)
£9.99
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE'A literary masterpiece for all ages . . .a tale of growing up, of love and laughter, of tragedy and loss and grief - a tale that is so compelling that it turns the page for you: The Yearling leaves you tearful, breathless, exhilarated' MICHAEL MORPURGO'An unsentimental, stone-cold classic that should be spoken of in the same breath - and read as religiously - as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird' THE TIMES'A genuine classic . . .
I was stunned to awe by The Yearling's beauty and strength' LAUREN GROFFIn the remote, unforgiving landscape of central Florida, Ezra 'Penny' Baxter, his wife Ora and their son Jody carve out a precarious existence. Only ever a failed crop away from disaster, life in the Big Scrub is one of lurking danger, wild beauty and the thrill of the hunt. Jody's world is transformed when he rescues a starving fawn, who becomes his constant companion.
But their bond is threatened when the yearling endangers the family's survival - and Jody is forced to make a terrible choice that will change him forever. Winner of the 1939 Pulitzer Prize and an instant bestseller, The Yearling is a moving and richly evocative classic for readers of all ages.
Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ( new edition 2023)
£9.99
A gorgeous new edition of the coming of age classic from 2013.
Vogue Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria. In America, Ifemelu suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Meanwhile, Obinze plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.
Fifteen years later, when they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria, and reignite their passion for each other and for their homeland, they face the hardest decision of their lives. Fearless, gripping, spanning three continents and numerous lives, the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning Americanah is a literary masterpiece, and one of the defining books of the decade. A brilliant novel: epic in scope, personal in resonance and with lots to say.
Best Loved Irish Legends, Eithne Massey ( paperback 2018)
£11.99
Stories from long, long ago, part of an ancient oral tradition, handed down from generation to generation and written down by the Christian monks of medieval Ireland.
This hugely popular book is now available in paperback.
FAVOURITE LEGENDS include The Salmon of Knowledge - How Cu Chulainn Got His Name - The Children of Lir - The King with Donkey's Ears- Fionn and the Giant - The White Wolfhound- Oisin
Peter Rabbit: Up and Away : inspired by Beatrix Potter- by Rachel Bright
£7.99
A lovely introduction to the characters and stories of Beatrix Potter.
Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter's world-famous creation, is hopping off on new adventures in this brand new picture book series created by bestselling creators, Rachel Bright and Nicola Kinnear. Peter is being a helpful bunny and looking after Jemima Puddle-duck's eggs one sunny spring day. Peter soon has to put his inventive brain to use when the eggs hatch and it's time to teach the little ducklings how to fly.
But when bouncers, spinning hats and flying jumps don't work, will Peter learn that everyone learns at their own pace. This mischievous, little rabbit has been a favourite character for over 100 years and these new stories celebrate Peter's cheeky nature, adventurous spirit and never-ending curiosity in a truly modern way.
Tales from Old Ireland, Malachy Doyle ( paperback )
£12.99
This collection of seven spellbinding Irish folk tales deserves to be read aloud at every hearth. Larger-than-life characters, dramatic plot twists and a healthy dose of magical enchantment will keep readers absorbed for many happy hours. Includes glossary and pronunciation key for Irish terms.
Best Loved Paddington Stories ( paperback)
£12.99
Three favourite stories of Paddington, the beloved classic bear from Darkest Peru, brought together in one volume.
This special edition brings together three favourite classic adventures – Paddington Goes to Hospital, Paddington at the Circus and Paddington Goes for Gold.
Book measures 264 x 261 x 8 (mm)
Three Tasks for a Dragon, Eoin Colfer & PJ Lynch ( hardback Oct 2023)
£14.99
Illustrated in a sophisticated muted palette, this is a classic quest story with a modern twist from two Irish Children's Laureates. After his father’s death, Prince Lir is tricked into embarking on a perilous quest to rescue a maiden from a dragon. The studious young prince is no warrior, but he uses his brains to make himself indispensable to the grumpy dragon.
However, neither prince nor dragon have bargained on the dark magic which manipulates them both, and it may be left to maiden herself to save them all…
Paperback now available from Feb 2025.
My Very Busy Day, Shirley Hughes ( hardback April 2024)
£12.99
A classic collection of first experiences for pre-schoolers, illustrated by the best-loved Kate Greenaway medal-winner, Shirley Hughes. In this beautifully illustrated book for first readers, little ones can find out about Olly and Katie's very busy day learning new words and improving their vocabulary along the way. From getting dressed in the morning, heading out for a walk in the park or having a story before bath and bedtime, this simple, joyful book takes the reader through key points in a toddler's day, with plenty of objects to spot and recognize in Shirley Hughes' reassuring and charming pictures.
Packed with evocative scenes from childhood and first words to spell out on each page, there is so much to see and do in Olly and Katie's gentle pre-school world.
Great American Short Stories, ed Jane Smiley ( July 2024, paperback)
£10.99
A dazzling collection of short stories, including The “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving “The Sculptor's Funeral” by Willa Cather “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry And many more.
It's a perfect introduction to all the classic American authors. This edition also features an introduction by Jane Smiley.
The Living Mountain, Nan Shepherd ( paperback)
£9.99
'The finest book ever written on nature and landscape in Britain' Guardian
Introduction by Robert Macfarlane - In this masterpiece of nature writing, Nan Shepherd describes her journeys into the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland. There she encounters a world that can be breathtakingly beautiful at times and shockingly harsh at others.
Her intense, poetic prose explores and records the rocks, rivers, creatures and hidden aspects of this remarkable landscape. Shepherd spent a lifetime in search of the 'essential nature' of the Cairngorms; her quest led her to write this classic meditation on the magnificence of mountains, and on our imaginative relationship with the wild world around us.
Composed during the Second World War, the manuscript of The Living Mountain lay untouched for more than thirty years before it was finally published.
Orchard Greek Myths, Geraldine McCaughrain
£14.99
Discover the drama and thrill of sixteen classic Ancient Greek myths in this glorious story collection. Featuring all of the best-known stories, including Theseus & the Minotaur, Heracles, Daedalus & Icarus, The Wooden Horse and Pandora's Box. Retold by master storyteller, Geraldine McCaughrean, with full colour artwork throughout, this is an essential for every child's bookshelf.
"These powerful stories are brought to a young modern audience with a verve and simplicity that makes them shine in our minds" - Michael Rosen
Stories included: Theseus and the Minotaur / Pandora's Box / Perseus and Medusa / Jason and the Golden Fleece / Daedalus and Icarus / Orpheus and Eurydice/ Arachne/ The Wooden Horse of Troy/ King Midas/ Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds /Echo and Narcissus/ The Twelve Labours of Heracles/ Odysseus/ Apollo and Daphne/ Atalanta's Race/ Freedom for Prometheus
Wordsworth Collector's Editions : Classic Stories
£8.99
This is such a good value collection - small hardbacks, beautifully produced, with all the classic stories featured. A lovely gift to yourself or even as a christening present to decorate a nursery. Some of the best loved children's titles are included.
Usually only £8.99 per title. I have some featured here but some more can be found below :
Little Women - Anne of Green Gables - Emma - A Christmas Carol - Mrs Dalloway - The Great Gatsby - Ulysses - The Dubliners - Wuthering Heights - Sense and Sensibility - Sherlock Holmes - Far From the Madding Crowd - Tess of the D'Urbervilles ... and MORE!
Railway Children - Black Beauty - Alice in Wonderland - THe WInd in the WIllows - Jungle Book - The LIttle Prince - Peter Pan
Uncanny Ireland : Otherworldly Tales of the Strange and Sublime ( hardback 2024 )
£16.99
Hardback, 288 pages
British Library Publishing
Classifications: Classic horror & ghost stories
Weight:708g, Dimensions:22 x 16 cm
'Suddenly the upper rim of the clear setting sun disappeared behind the hill of Knockdoula, and it was twilight. Each child felt the transition like a shock ... and the rounded summit of Lisnavoura, now closely overhanging them, struck them with a new fear.'Ireland's rich literary history has within it a vein of potent fantastic fiction, drawing upon a deep folkloric tradition brimming with tales of the aos si (the people of the fairy mounds), the Otherworld and timeless deities.
Writers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries added a new chapter to this tradition, reworking elements of folklore into modern tales of the weird and macabre. Featuring stories by classic authors such as Sheridan Le Fanu and Charlotte Riddell alongside pieces by Lady Gregory, Katharine Tynan, Elizabeth Bowen and many more.
The amazing world of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler ( hardback Oct 2024)
£25.00
This lavishly illustrated visual guide is a celebration of the iconic creative partnership between Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. A stunning gift book, it is packed full of behind-the-scenes information, fun facts and never-before-seen illustrations from their many bestselling stories. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have been making picture book magic for over thirty years, creating some of the world’s best-loved picture books, including The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Stick Man and Zog.
Find out more about their early lives, explore how their creative partnership began, and dive deeper inside the wonderful worlds of all your favourite characters and stories. Packed with full-colour illustrations, sketches and photographs, The Amazing World of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is a must-have gift for fans of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. This gorgeous hardback edition is perfect for all the family to enjoy together.
The Story Orchestra - musical storybooks
£16.99
The Story Orchestra series brings classical music to life for children through gorgeously illustrated retellings of classic ballet, opera and program music stories paired with 10-second sound clips of orchestras playing from their musical scores. Also available in the Story Orchestra series: Four Seasons in One Day, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Carnival of the Animals, The Magic Flute, In the Hall of the Mountain King, I Can Play (vol 1), The Planets and Peter and the Wolf.
Next to this, you can replay the musical excerpts and, for each of them, read a discussion of the instruments, rhythms and musical techniques that make them so powerful.
A glossary defines musical terms.
Irish Fairy and Folk Tales, by WB Yeats ( hardback with gilded edges)
£19.99
- Weight:976g
- Dimensions:192 x 238 x 31 (mm)
A beautiful gift edition, edited by WB Yeats and covering all the classic forms of folk and fairy tale.
Vintage Collector's Classics ( new hardback editions with decorative edges, March 2025)
£18.99
A beautiful deluxe gift edition of some classic novels with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper and finished with a silk ribbon.
Jane Eyre ( featured) : As an orphan, Jane's childhood is full of trouble, but her stubborn independence and sense of self help her to steer through the miseries inflicted by cruel relatives and a brutal school. A position as governess at the Thornfield Hall promises a kind of freedom. But Thornfield is a house full of secrets, its master a passionate, tormented man, and before long Jane faces her greatest struggle in a choice between love and self-respect.
This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR’S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production.
Other titles available : Pciture of Dorian Gray, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Little Women ( featured)Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein, Dracula .. .happy to email visuals of these on request.
The Glass Palace, Amitav Ghosh ( paperback, first written 2000 )
£10.99
Rajkumar is only another boy, helping on a market stall in the dusty square outside the royal palace, when the British force the Burmese King, Queen and all the Court into exile.
He is rescued by the far-seeing Chinese merchant, and with him builds up a logging business in upper Burma. But haunted by his vision of the Royal Family, he journeys to the obscure town in India where they have been exiled. The story follows the fortunes – rubber estates in Malaya, businesses in Singapore, estates in Burma – which Rajkumar, with his Chinese, British and Burmese relations, friends and associates, builds up – from 1870 through the Second World War to the scattering of the extended family to New York and Thailand, London and Hong Kong in the post-war years.
Fantastic Mr Fox, Roald Dahl ( paperback )
£7.99
On a hill above the valley there was a wood. In the wood there was a huge tree. Under the tree there was a hole.
In the hole lived Mr Fox and Mrs Fox and their four Small Foxes. . .
"Mr Fox is a very clever fox - every evening he creeps down into the valley and helps himself to food from the nearby farms. Chickens from Farmer Boggis, ducks and geese from Farmer Bunce, and turkeys from Farmer Bean. But now the farmers have had enough, and together they hatch a plan to get rid of Mr Fox for good!But what they don't know is Mr Fox has some help, and a fantastic escape plan of his own...
The text in this edition of Fantastic Mr Fox was updated in 2022 for young independent readers. A great way of reading to your younger child, engaging their love of language, and encouraging independent reading.
note that from 2020-2023 Dahl has come in for some criticism for some of his language being dated in terms of race or gender bias. These texts have been slightly amended in line with current sensitivities
The Magician’s Nephew , CS Lewis ( Book 1 of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)
£8.99
THE ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING… One touch of a magical ring sends two friends hurtling into another world and accidentally releases an evil sorceress from her enchanted sleep. Hungry for ultimate power, she’s determined to destroy everyone – and every world – in her path. But a song from the Great Lion, Aslan, awakens a new hope and a new world: Narnia, where anything is possible.
And this is only the start of the adventure. The Magician's Nephew is the first book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia, which has captivated readers of all ages with a magical land and unforgettable characters for over seventy-five years.
This is a stand-alone novel, but if you would like to journey through the wardrobe and back to Narnia, read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the second book in The Chronicles of Narnia, the greatest epic fantasy series of all time. Read them all: · The Magician’s Nephew · The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe · The Horse and His Boy · Prince Caspian · The Voyage of the Dawn Treader · The Silver Chair · The Last Battle
