The Serial Garden

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE

'She's one of the most important and interesting children's fiction writers of the last fifty years' NEIL GAIMAN

'What a thrill to discover this gem from the witty and endlessly inventive Joan Aiken' CHRIS RIDDELL

'She is one of the writers I admire most in the world' KATHERINE RUNDELL

'She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for years to come' PHILIP PULLMAN

'The most swooningly romantic story you'll ever read - The Serial Garden' FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE

'I wish we'll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen - say, Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, or that would get a bit dull'

As a result of their mother's honeymoon wish, Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn and are prepared for anything life can throw at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying - but never, ever dull.

'A delightful summary of one side of Aiken's talent: whimsical, funny, a series of brilliantly imaginative ideas stitched together with dream logic . . . It is the mixture of irrepressible gaiety and invention with the tragic that makes Aiken one of the great children's authors . . . impossible to calculate the number of people who have enjoyed her books - who have had some magic injected into the mundane' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

“She was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew - The TimesJoan Aiken's invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come.A writer of wild humour and unrestrained imagination - Oxford Companion to Children's LiteratureShe was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew - The Times”

She was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew - The Times

Joan Aiken's invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come.

A writer of wild humour and unrestrained imagination - Oxford Companion to Children's Literature

She was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew - The Times

Joan Aiken (Author)

Joan Aiken (1924-2004) was born in Rye, Sussex. She was the daughter of the American poet Conrad Aiken, and her step-father was English writer Martin Armstrong.

Joan Aiken wrote over one hundred books for young readers and adults and is recognised as one of the classic children's authors of the twentieth century. Her best-known books are The Wolves of Willoughby Chase chronicles and the Arabel's Raven series, but she is also famous for her brilliant short stories. Joan Aiken received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in the United States as well as the Guardian Award for Fiction. She was decorated with an MBE for her services to children's books.

'I wish we'll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen - say, Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, or that would get a bit dull' As a result of their mother's honeymoon wish, Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn, and are prepared for anything life can throw at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep, and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying - but never, ever dull. 'A writer of wild humour and unrestrained imagination' Oxford Companion to Children's Literature 'She was a consummate story-teller, one that each generation discovers anew' Amanda Craig, The Times

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE 'She's one of the most important and interesting children's fiction writers of the last fifty years' NEIL GAIMAN 'What a thrill to discover this gem from the witty and endlessly inventive Joan Aiken' CHRIS RIDDELL 'She is one of the writers I admire most in the world' KATHERINE RUNDELL 'She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for years to come' PHILIP PULLMAN 'I wish we'll have two children called Mark and Harriet. And I hope lots of interesting and unusual things will happen to them. It would be nice if they had a fairy godmother, for instance. And a phoenix or something out of the ordinary for a pet. We could have a special day for interesting and unusual things to happen - say, Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, or that would get a bit dull.' As a result of their mother's honeymoon wish, Mark and Harriet Armitage have a fairy godmother, a pet unicorn and are prepared for anything life can throw at them (especially, but not always, on a Monday): hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost, furious Furies on the doorstep and an enchanted garden locked inside a cereal packet. Life with the Armitages can be magical, funny, terrifying - but never, ever dull. 'A delightful summary of one side of Aiken's talent: whimsical, funny, a series of brilliantly imaginative ideas stitched together with dream logic ... It is the mixture of irrepressible gaiety and invention with the tragic that makes Aiken one of the great children's authors ... impossible to calculate the number of people who have enjoyed her books - who have had some magic injected into the mundane' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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