Books with author Nicholas Tucker

What do Philip Pullman and J.K. Rowling have in common that has made both of their stories so successful? What does Pullman listen to while he writes – and who, or what, is Dust?Pullman’s award-winning trilogy His Dark Materials has been appreciated by readers of all ages. It is now set to welcome new fans as it is adapted for television by the BBC, and his new trilogy at last sees publication. Nicholas Tucker, a leading authority on children’s literature, writes about the man he knows as a friend. Unpacking and examining Pullman’s life and the sources he drew on for his masterpiece, he explores the world of science, theology, imagination and adventure that Pullman has created.Including a personal interview with Pullman himself, Darkness Visible offers a unique exploration of the author’s work – and its controversies.“Enigmas from His Dark Materials are unraveled… Unmissable for all Pullman readers" Sussex Express

Philip Pullman's celebrated trilogy His Dark Materials has been translated into 40 languages and sold over four million copies worldwide. All three books with their astonishing characters and richly complex plots will shortly become a major new TV series produced by Bad Wolf, a U.K./U.S. production company. In this second, revised edition of Darkness Visible, leading authority on children's literature Nicholas Tucker writes about the man he knows as a friend. He unpacks and examines the sources Pullman drew on for his masterpiece, from poets Milton and Blake to comic books and radio dramas. For while His Dark Materials can be enjoyed as a page-turning saga lit by an extraordinary imagination, it is also packed with literary references which raise important questions about our lives and even our ultimate place in the universe. Written for the general reader of whatever age, and including family photographs and illustrations, Darkness Visible offers a unique exploration of Pullman's great work while discussing the controversies it has given rise to in the decade following its publication.

Alfred Crabtree has lost his false teeth. But don’t worry, he’ll find them if he can just get his things organized! Alfred's world is cluttered with surprising objects. Some are very uncommon, and some are probably not where they ought to be. There are a lot of pencils and small yapping dogs. There’s a squeeze bottle of mustard, a plunger, a rubber band or two, a few very fancy hats, and a group portrait of sea monsters. There’s an old cassette tape, a swizzle stick, a bicycle pump, and an armadillo shell. Join Alfred on a romp through his far too many possessions and you’ll end up learning more about him than he knows about himself. And maybe he’ll find his teeth in all that stuff!

This guide examines the best children's books currently available for 0 to 5 year olds. It includes reviews of recommended titles, ranging from picture books for babies through alphabets and nursery rhymes to classic stories for junior readers, with a brief synopsis of each, and an evaluation of its special qualities and educational advantages. The guide is subdivided by age and subject matter.

Children's responses to literature are equally fascinating from the psychological and the literary point of view. Nicholas Tucker's exploratory study traces the relationship between the child and the book using both these perspectives, from the baby's first picture book to the moment when the adolescent reader takes up adult literature. In addition, it examines critically arguments for extra care and censorship in the selection of books for children, and conversely looks at what children's books can offer the adult reader. Ranging from nursery rhymes and fairy stories to comics, popular best-sellers and modern children's writing, the author's acute criticism offers a balanced view of a stimulating and sometimes controversial subject.

Philip Pullman is one of the world's most popular and original authors, read by young adults and adults alike. Containing an astonishing cast of characters, from scholarly Oxford dons to armored bears, witches, angels, murderous Spectres and hideous harpies drawn straight from Greek mythology, Pullman's fiction can be read at many levels. DARKNESS VISIBLE looks at the world of Philip Pullman from the flamboyant Sally Lockhart series and the award winning Clockwork and I Was a Rat!, to his epic and internationally bestselling DARK MATERIALS TRILOGY. It shows the diverse influences - from Milton and Blake to comic books and radio drama - that have shaped his writing and uncovers the part played by Pullman's unconventional childhood. PACKED WITH NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FAMILY PHOTOS, ILLUSTRATIONS FROM PULLMAN'S BELOVED GRAPHIC NOVELS AND FRESH MATERIAL FROM RECENT INTERVIEWS --- DARKNESS VISIBLE is both a celebration of Philip Pullman and a unique guide to the rich world of his fiction.

The teenage son of a hetaera (woman of pleasure), Pheidippides and his beautiful young mother are not recognized as citizens of ancient Athens. Yet he is enchanted with the essence of the grand city-state and all the promise it holds. His short daily runs are on mere delivery errands, but he aspires to one day be among the elite foot couriers who run up to fifty miles on vital missions of state. When an impending invasion from faraway Persia, the world's most powerful empire--led by a temperamental tyrant bent on destroying democracy--threatens Athens and the entire land of squabbling Greek city-states, Pheidippides must undertake a grueling solitary trek to outrun enemy ships heading for his beloved city. Chased by assassins over a distance more than four times his usual runs, can he save Athens and its fledgling democratic ideals...and at what cost?

Philip Pullman's celebrated trilogy His Dark Materials has been translated into 40 languages and sold over four million copies worldwide. All three books with their astonishing characters and richly complex plots will shortly become a major new BBC TV series. In this second, revised edition of Darkness Visible, leading authority on children's literature Nicholas Tucker writes about the man he knows as a friend. He unpacks and examines the sources Pullman drew on for his masterpiece, from poets Milton and Blake to comic books and radio dramas. For while His Dark Materials can be enjoyed as a page-turning saga lit by an extraordinary imagination, it is also packed with literary references which raise important questions about our lives and even our ultimate place in the universe. Written for the general reader of whatever age, and including family photographs and illustrations, Darkness Visible offers a unique exploration of Pullman's great work while discussing the controversies it has given rise to in the decade following its publication.