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The Phoenix and the Carpet
Series: Virago Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 9,728 ratings, 341 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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The Phoenix and the Carpet
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See moreOne of the most influential children's writers who ever lived, E. Nesbit deserves a full reappraisal. She once inspired C. S. Lewis and Arthur Ransom - her modern admirers include Neil Gaiman, J. K. Rowling, Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Saunders and Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
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'I love her books - particularly the FIVE CHILDREN AND IT sequence' - Neil GaimanTHIS IS THE SECOND BOOK IN THE PSAMMEAD TRILOGY, FOLLOWING FIVE CHILDREN AND IT'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 Chi
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
E. Nesbit is celebrated as an influential figure in children's fantasy literature, praised for her ability to blend the magical with the everyday. Renowned authors admire her for her timeless storytelling and her refusal to condescend to young readers. Her works, including the Five Children and It sequence, are loved for their imagination, humour, and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on both writers and readers alike.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349009421
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 September 2017
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Virago Press Ltd
Contributors:
- Illustrated by H. R. Millar
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 25.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 242g
Pages: 304
About the Author
Edith Nesbit (1858-1924) is perhaps most famous for writing The Railway Children and Five Children and It, but she was extremely prolific and wrote or collaborated on more than sixty children's books. Nesbit is today recognised as one of the most influential and innovative children's writers that ever lived, and is cited as an inspiration by many contemporary authors, including J. K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Jacqueline Wilson, Kate Saunders and Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Even C. S. Lewis acknowledged the debt his Narnia series owed to her work-particularly the Bastable and Psammead trilogies.
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