The Haunting of Charity Delafield

Description

A magical, enchanting tale, with stunning illustrations that will transport you into another world. Flame-haired Charity Delafield has grown up in a vast, isolated house - most of which she is forbidden to explore - by her strict, cold father. With only her kindly nurse, Rose, and her cat Mr Tompkins for company, she knows very little of the outside world - or of her own family's shadowy past. What she does know is that she is NEVER to go outside unsupervised. And she is NEVER to over-excite herself, because of the mysterious 'condition' that she has been told she suffers from. But Charity has a secret of her own. All her life, she has had the same strange dream - a dream of a dark corridor, hidden somewhere in the house. Then, one day, Charity stumbles across the corridor. It leads to a door . . . and suddenly she realises things are not quite what they seem.

IAN BECK has worked as a freelance illustrator for many years (including such notable artwork as the record cover for Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album). Ian turned to writing and illustrating children's books when his own children were born.

Beck's book is exquisitely produced, and a delight to hold; this would make a perfect present for a dreamy child of 9+ . . . Proves, triumphantly, that there are better books out there than the endless Twilight rip-offs pumped out for young girls. We just have to find what is beautiful and true -- Amanda Craig * The Times * This has all the ingredients of an enthralling adventure - a lonely child, a missing parent, a series of clues and a surprisingly satisfying twist of an ending * Daily Mail * A perfect fantasy novel for older children . . . In all senses, a magical tale -- A N Wilson * Readers Digest *