This Month - Quentin Blake - contributed by Tim

Sometimes it can be hard to place a metaphorical finger exactly on what it is that makes us enjoy a particular author or illustrator. But in the case of Quentin Blake surely it is his idiosyncratic use of fast yet precise pen strokes that convey exuberant movement and a sense of excitement.

Quentin Blake is one of Britain 's most popular and successful illustrators - indeed, to use a rather irksome phrase, it could be said ...... Read More

Featured Books -The Iron Wolf and Other Stories - contributed by Lorna

I'm sure that most people on hearing the name Richard Adams would think of his first novel, Watership Down, which was published in 1972 and won both the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award in 1973. Adams wrote other novels including Shardik, The Plague Dogs and The Girl on a Swing as well as picture books for children including Tyger Voyage and The Ship's Cat. The Iron Wolf and Other Stories by Richard Adams is neither a novel nor a picture book but a collection of nineteen folk tales from all over the world. They are set in countries as far afield as China and Alaska as well as as much closer to home in the Isle of Man and Wales. Some, such as The Nightingale, a tale.....Read the full article

More Countryside Books

Other Detective Fiction Books

More books about

Shipwrecks

Price: £70

A selection of other Girls School Stories titles

Published by E. And T. Williams. 1796. Three volumes. Volumes I and II: The Cambrian Register for the Years 1795 and 1796. Published in 1796 and 1799. Printed for E. & T. Williams. The Cambrian Register Vol III printed for E. Williams 1818.
Price: £520

1978 edition, published by Hazleton Securities. Large format. Colour and b/w photos. Book in 'As New' condition in fine wrapper. Price: £200

News in Brief

New books catalogued into stock this month include many Enid Blyton titles, with a complete set of her 'Holiday Book' series. Among the other books catalogued are some beautiful Antiquarian titles, Gypsy, Chalet School books, Biggles titles and much more....

Hay Festival secures the future of Brecon Jazz. In 2010 Hay Festival will take control of Brecon Jazz, after the festival was hit by financial worries in 2008 after poor ticket sales. Please read the full story on the BBC news website here.

This month's picture is taken from the window of Stella Books looking straight towards the large oak tree across the River Wye on a recent frosty morning, with a high tide.

To see other news in brief, please click here.