The Tale of the Tailor and the Three Dead Kings


Book Description

A chilling medieval ghost story, first written by a 15th-century monk and now retold by historian Dan Jones.




The Tale of the Tailor and the Three Dead Kings


Book Description

A chilling medieval ghost story, retold by bestselling historian Dan Jones. Published in a beautiful small-format hardback, perfect as a Halloween read or a Christmas gift. One winter, in the dark days of King Richard II, a tailor was riding home on the road from Gilling to Ampleforth. It was dank, wet and gloomy; he couldn't wait to get home and sit in front of a blazing fire. Then, out of nowhere, the tailor is knocked off his horse by a raven, who then transforms into a hideous dog, his mouth writhing with its own innards. The dog issues the tailor with a warning: he must go to a priest and ask for absolution and return to the road, or else there will be consequences... First recorded in the early fifteenth century by an unknown monk, The Tale of the Tailor and the Three Dead Kings was transcribed from the Latin by the great medievalist M.R. James in 1922. Building on that tradition, now bestselling historian Dan Jones retells this medieval ghost story in crisp and creepy prose.




Haunted Seasons


Book Description

This book explores the literary and cultural history behind certain Christmas and Halloween traditions, and examines the way that they have moved into broadcasting. It demonstrates how these horror traditions have become more domestic and personal, and how they provide a necessary seasonal pause for reflection on our fears.




Love and Deception


Book Description

'James Hanning's book is excellent . . . The fascination of Love & Deception lies in the meticulously detailed account it gives of Philby's strange half-life in Beirut, where he was banished in 1956' Guardian Love & Deception is the extraordinary story of how Eleanor, an able, cultured American living in the espionage hot spot of 1950s Beirut, fell in love with the kindest of men. Unknown to her, that man, Kim Philby, was under suspicion by the British and US intelligence services of having secretly signed up to help the Russians fight fascism in the 1930s, and of remaining in their pay at the height of the Cold War. Despite his mysterious past, Eleanor adored and married Philby, but the strength of their love was challenged as the net steadily closed in on him. The outline of Philby's story is familiar to many, but Love & Deception breaks remarkable new ground. Through extensive research, Hanning produces an eye-opening tale of friendship, politics, love and loyalty. 'Fascinating and superbly researched' TLS 'I am always gripped by the Philby story and James Hanning succeeds in putting new flesh on this fascinating period in his double life . . . I thoroughly recommend it' Marina Hyde 'If ever there was a cautionary tale about the true costs of male privilege in the higher echelons of the British establishment - this is it' Amanda Foreman




The Ruin of Kings


Book Description

A Kirkus Best of Science Fiction and Fantasy pick for 2019! A Library Journal Best Book of 2019! An NPR Favorite Book of 2019! "Everything epic fantasy should be: rich, cruel, gorgeous, brilliant, enthralling and deeply, deeply satisfying. I loved it."—Lev Grossman, author of The Magicians When destiny calls, there's no fighting back. Kihrin grew up in the slums of Quur, a thief and a minstrel's son raised on tales of long-lost princes and magnificent quests. When he is claimed against his will as the missing son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds himself at the mercy of his new family's ruthless power plays and political ambitions. Practically a prisoner, Kihrin discovers that being a long-lost prince is nothing like what the storybooks promised. The storybooks have lied about a lot of other things, too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, and how the hero always wins. Then again, maybe he isn't the hero after all. For Kihrin is not destined to save the world. He's destined to destroy it. Jenn Lyons begins the Chorus of Dragons series with The Ruin of Kings, an epic fantasy novel about a man who discovers his fate is tied to the future of an empire. "It's impossible not to be impressed with the ambition of it all . . . a larger-than-life adventure story about thieves, wizards, assassins and kings to dwell in for a good long while."—The New York Times A Chorus of Dragons 1: The Ruin of Kings 2: The Name of All Things 3: The Memory of Souls




The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales


Book Description

Once upon a time in a fairy tale world, There were magical mirrors and golden slippers;Castles and fields and mountains of glass,Houses of bread and windows of sugar.Frogs transformed into handsome Princes,And big bad wolves into innocent grandmothers.There were evil queens and wicked stepmothers;Sweethearts, true brides, and secret lovers. In the same fairy world, A poor boy has found a golden key and an iron chest, and " We must wait until he has quite unlocked it and opened the lid . . ." A classic collection of timeless folk tales by Grimm Brothers, Grimm' s Fairy Tales are not only enchanting, mysterious, and amusing, but also frightening and intriguing. Delighting children and adults alike, these tales have undergone several adaptations over the decades. This edition with black-and-white illustrations is a translation by Margaret Hunt.




Rikki-Tikki-Tavi


Book Description

Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is the story of a mongoose whose bravery knows no bounds and the family he is endeared to and looks after with a fiery passion. After a small flood Rikki-Tikki-Tavi finds himself rescued by a family in India and he is curious to discover more about his new surroundings. He finds there is danger lurking in the shadows that threatens his new family. Rikki will stop at nothing to make sure they are safe. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a timeless classic from Rudyard Kipling that should be enjoyed by all. - 10 unique color illustrations




Medieval Ghost Stories


Book Description

"Medieval Ghost Stories" is a collection of ghostly occurrences from the eighth to the fourteenth centuries; they have been found in monastic chronicles and preaching manuals, in sagas and heroic poetry, and in medieval romances. In a religious age, the tales bore a peculiar freight of spooks and spirituality which can still make hair stand on end; unfailingly, these stories give a fascinating and moving glimpse into the medieval mind. Look only at the accounts of Richard Rowntree's stillborn child, glimpsed by his father tangled in swaddling clothes on the road to Santiago, or the sly habits of water sprites resting as goblets and golden rings on the surface of the river, just out of reach...




The Brave Little Tailor


Book Description

A tailor who kills seven flies with one blow outwits the king and earns half of his kingdom and his daughter's hand in marriage.




The Crimson Fairy Book


Book Description