Books with author Eleanor Farjeon

The Silver Curlew is one of Eleanor Farjeon's finest works, an intriguing re-telling of the classic story Rumpelstiltskin. Mother Codling lives with her children in a small, Norfolk windmill. One day, the Codlngs receive a surprise visit from the king of Norwich, who insists that eighteen-year-old Doll Codling must spin a certain amount of flax for him, or he will cut off her head.Doll, terrified of dying, makes a deal with a spindle-imp, in order to save herself and her family. The only clincher is, that he returns to the castle when Doll's daughter is born and insists that he take the newborn child as payment for his work.Doll, and her younger sister Poll, try desperately to keep the baby...

Wandering minstrel, Martin Pippin, encounters a lovelorn ploughman who begs him to release his beloved by entertaining the six young women sworn to guard her. This Martin Pippin does - telling beautiful tales of heartbreak, betrayal and everlasting love. But will the imprisoned Gillian ever be freed?This delightful collection will be loved by adults and children alike - a perfect introduction to sophisticated fairy tales.'She is one of the few who can conceive and tell a fairytale . . . Before I had read five pages of Martin Pippin, I had forgotten who I was and where I lived. I was transported into a world of sunlight, of gay inconsequence, of emotional surprise, a world of poetry, delight and humour. And I lived and took my joy in that rare world, until all too soon my reading was done.'From J. D. Beresford's Foreword to the first American edition of 1922.

More than anything, Ella wants to go to the ball at the Royal Palace.But Ella is the slave of the household, waiting on every wish and whim of her horrible stepsisters. They call her Cinderella for the ashes that cling to her face, hands and hair. How can Ella go to the Royal Palace?Then, on the evening of the ball, something wonderful happens. Ella’s Fairy Godmother comes to her rescue.Now her dreams may come true at last . . .

Wandering minstrel, Martin Pippin, encounters six little girls on his travels - who beg him to tell them stories. This he does whilst they are making daisy chains, and so his wonderful tales of magicians, mermaids, pirates and pigs are here-recounted.The collection includes one of Farjeon's most famous and charming stories, 'Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep.This classic, magical collection will be loved by adults and children alike - perfect for bedtime reading.

Wandering minstrel, Martin Pippin, encounters six little girls on his travels - who beg him to tell them stories. This he does whilst they are making daisy chains, and so his wonderful tales of magicians, mermaids, pirates and pigs are here-recounted.The collection includes one of Farjeon's most famous and charming stories, 'Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep.This classic, magical collection will be loved by adults and children alike - perfect for bedtime reading.

Mother Codling lived in a windmill in Norfolk near the sea. Her husband the miller had been dead for a number of years, during which Mother Codling had kept the mill and her family going. The sails went round, and the corn was ground, and the little Codlings were clothed and fed. The mill-stones turned the red-gold grains of wheat into fine white flour, while time turned Mother Codling's children from babies into little girls and boys; and the fine white flour was changed in the oven to plump loaves of bread, while the girls and boys were changed by the passing years into healthy young men and women.The Silver Curlew, is one of Eleanor Farjeon's finest works. First published in 1953, it is an intriguing re-telling of the classic story, 'Rumpelstiltskin'. Mother Codling lives with her children in a small, Norfolk windmill. They grind their own flour, and live off the land. Being near the sea, the Codlings also supplement their diet with fish caught by their neighbour, Charlee.One day, the Codlngs receive a surprise visit from the king of Norwich, who insists that eighteen year old Doll Codling must spin a certain amount of flax for him, or he will cut off her head.Doll, terrified of dying, makes a deal with a spindle-imp, in order to save herself and her family. The only clincher is, that he returns to the castle when Doll's daughter is born and insists that he take the newborn child as payment for his work. Doll, and her younger sister Poll, try desperately to find out what the imp's name is so that they can keep the baby.

For every day of the year Eleanor Farjeon provides a scrap of fun or fancy, poetry or nonsense, fact or fable. Here young readers can set out with Will Kemp on his nine-day dance from London to Norwich and read the lovely tale of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, as well as celebrate Lincoln's birthday with a poem, and Christmas with a carol.A wonderful, timeless and utterly unique read for the whole family.