Publisher's Synopsis
J K Rowling, Edinburgh International Book Festival, August 15, 2004: "I love E Nesbit - I think she is great and I identify with the way that she writes." Classic stories by much-loved children's author E. Nesbit. This book contains seven full-length novels. Set in an England of steam-trains and magic, generations of children have thrilled to these exciting adventures. When the children in these stories aren't preventing a train crash, you'll find them flying on a magic carpet, travelling through time with an enchanted Egyptian amulet, hatching the egg of the mythical phoenix, or using their magical ring to explore an enchanted castle This '7 books in 1' edition is an ideal gift for any child who loves reading, or any adult who wants to bring some magic into their life! The Railway Children 'The train wouldn't care. It would go rushing by them and tear round the corner and go crashing into that awful mound. And everyone would be killed. Her hands grew very cold and trembled so that she could hardly hold the flag. And then came the distant rumble and hum of the metals, and a puff of white steam showed far away along the stretch of line.' Five Children and It The Psammead is a small, furry animal from thousands of years ago that has eyes on long horns like a snail's eves, ears like a bat's ears, and a tubby body shaped like a spider's and covered with thick soft fur; its arms and legs are furry too, and it has hands and feet like a monkey's. But the best thing about the Psammead is that it can grant wishes. The Phoenix and The Carpet (also known as 'The Phoenix and The Wishing Carpet') When the children from "Five Children and It" accidentally hatch the egg of the mythical Phoenix, it shows them how to use their magic carpet to travel anywhere they want... and a whole new round of adventures begins! The Story of The Amulet The children's mother is very ill, and their father has been sent abroad on business. With both their parents away, they discover their old friend the Psammead - captured and put up for sale! If only they could get wishes from the Psammead, they could wish their mother well again, and wish their father home. But the Psammead can't give them any more wishes. Luckily it knows where they can find an ancient Egyptian amulet that could give them their 'heart's desire' - if only it was in one piece! The Story of the Treasure Seekers "'I'll tell you what, we must go and seek for treasure: it is always what you do to restore the fallen fortunes of your House.'" When the Bastable family runs short of money, the children decide it's up to them to find a way to restore their family fortunes. Will they succeed in rescuing their father from the visits of policeman and debt collectors? The Would-Be-Goods The Bastable children behave so badly that their father sends them away to live in the countryside. Determined to be good in the future, they form a society, the 'Wouldbegoods', for being good in. But things don't go exactly as they plan... The Enchanted Castle Sent to live in the countryside for the summer, Jerry, Jimmy and Cathleen discover a secret castle containing a sleeping princess - and (although he's worried that she might slap him for it) one of the boys kisses her, and she wakes up. But shouldn't a real princess be taller? Is the castle really enchanted - or was the 'princess' just pretending?
