Product Description

A vivid Victorian drama told in words and cartoons

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23226 in Books
• Published on: 1998-10-01
• Format: Illustrated
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Philip Pullman is in fine fettle in this cracking little book--a rip-roaring, quick-witted adventure story of the very best kind, told in words and pictures. Here we have the stirring tale of three defenceless little orphans as they attempt to escape from the Alderman Cawn-Plaster Memorial Orphanage one dark and stormy London night . Closely watched by Mack the Knife and other such villainous villains, they weave their way across the dark and dangerous streets of the city in constant fear of being caught and returned to the care of the rancid Mr Killjoy and his horribly horrid assistant.

Enter Spring Heeled Jack, the hooded superhero to beat all hooded superheroes, dressed like the devil and ready for action against the evil-doers and scallywags of the city's dark streets.

A boisterous, daredevil tale that proves that the award-winning Pullman has certainly lost none of his magic touch. Great stuff.

Synopsis
A hilarious tale of bravery and evil, set in Victorian London and told partly in strip-cartoon form. Three orphaned children are being pursued by the evil Mack the Knife, but Spring-heeled Jack is hot on his trail. The author's other books include "How to be Cool" and "The Ruby in the Smoke".

From the Back Cover
A Story of Bravery and Evil

Deep in the murkiest back streets of old London town, three children are escaping from an orphanage. But lurking in the fog, watching Rose, Lily and Ned, is a king among villains - Mack the Knife!

A dreadful fate looks certain until, from out of nowhere, a figure with glowing, red eyes appears. He leaps through the air like a Firework - it's Spring-Heeled Jack, scourge of evil-doers!

A fantastic adventure told in words and cartoons by Carnegie-medal winning writer Phillip Pullman, author of THE FIREWORK-MAKER'S DAUGHTER, winner of the Smarties Prize Gold Award, and CLOCKWORK, winner of the Smarties Prize Silver Award.

Customer Reviews

A Fantastic Book For All Ages
As a 14-year-old, some may think that this book is a bit too young for me, but that is not so. We chose to review this book in my Philip Pullman fan club, and I found it fantastic beyond my expectations. Philip Pullman merges fantastic plots with mesmerising writing skill, in a book that will have 3 year olds to 103 year olds on the edge of their seats. The story tells of children, eager to escape their cruel orphanage in victorian London to travel to America. But evil Mack the Knife captures their locket which is their only method of paying for this trip, and all hope is lost..... but then, Spring heeled jack comes along - a super-hero who closely resembles the devil, and "if he wasn't the devil, then who the devil was he?" as Philip Pullman says. This is a stunning book, funny, scary, even tearful in places - and it deserves to be put on the list of the best childrens' books ever. Philip Pullman has written amazing books for older children, most notably the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, but this is the perfect book for younger, and older readers alike. I only wish I had read this when I was 8.... I would have worshipped it :-)