Books with author Pauline Francis

Retold for younger readers, Gaston Leroux's classic tale of horror follows a young opera singer, Christine Daaé, who makes her triumphant debut at the Opera—and then disappearsWritten in 1909, The Phantom of the Opera is a spine chilling, dramatic story. What has happened to the vanished young opera singer, Christine—could the mysterious opera ghost be to blame? Christine’s lover, Raoul de Chagny, spies a mysterious stranger shadowing her, and decides to follow. This retelling has been shortened and illustrated for younger readers.

When Samuel discovers the Globe Theatre, he longs to work for the greatest writer in England, and when he cheekily tries to act, Master Shakespeare decides to employ him. One by one, Samuel plays Cobweb...then the grandson of Coriolanus...then a young Roman boy in Julius Caesar, but Master Shakespeare says he is still not ready to play the part he wants most: Juliet. Then one day, Sam gets a lucky break. But has he got what it takes to be one of the finest players in all England...?

This wonderful series is a quick way into a range of exciting stories. Each story is a shortened, dramatically illustrated version of the classic novel, which loses none of the strength and flavour of the original. This title tells the story of a Time Traveller who builds his own Time Machine and, to the disbelief of his friends, travels to the future world of AD802,701 a world which seems perfect at first, but hides a terrible secrets.

Homer's epic poem telling the story of the darkest episode in the ten-year-long Trojan War, retold for younger readers The Iliad is one of the greatest works of literature ever written. It has inspired readers and listeners for millennia. The story tells of the Trojan War, fought between the Trojans, led by King Priam, and the Greeks, led by King Agamemnon. At its center is Achilles, the greatest warrior-champion of the Greeks, and his refusal to fight after being humiliated by his leader Agamemnon. But when the Trojan Hector kills Achilles' close friend Patroclus, he storms back into battle to take revenge—even though he knows this will ensure his own untimely death. This retelling has been shortened and illustrated for younger readers.

In this retelling for younger readers, Richard Hannay is a Canadian visitor to 1930's London. After a disturbance at a music hall, he meets Annabella Smith, who is on the run from foreign agents. He takes her back to his apartment, but they are followed, and later that night Annabella is murdered. Hannay then goes on the run to break the spy ring and to prove his innocence.

The Iliad is one of the greatest works of literature ever written; it has inspired readers and listeners for millennia. The story tells of a few days -fighting in the ten year long war between the Trojans led by King Priam, and the Greeks led by King Agamemnon. Heroes from both sides fight one another - how they fight, and how they die, is what is important to them. Essential Classics is a wonderful new series that offers a quick way into a range of exciting stories. Fast-moving and accessible, each story is a shortened, dramatically illustrated version of the classic novel, which loses none of the strength and flavour of the original.

L. Frank Baum's classic tale of Dorothy, retold for a younger readers Dorothy is a young girl who lives with her aunt and uncle on a farm in Kansas. She and her dog, Toto, are picked up by a sudden tornado and whisked far away, over the rainbow, to the strange magical land of Oz. How will they ever get home? And what is at the end of the yellow brick road? Plucky Dorothy and Toto embark on a magical adventure to search for the Wizard of Oz, and along the way encounter the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. This retelling has been shortened and illustrated for younger readers.

Charles Dickens' classic tells the story of a young boy in Victorian England who faces great adversity, all while dreaming of becoming a writer, retold for younger readersYoung David Copperfield is deeply affected when his widowed mother remarries. When his mother dies, David’s stepfather sends him to work in a London factory. He has to learn how to find how own way in a harsh world, and makes many friends along the way, both good and bad. After Wilkins Micawber, his landlord, is sent to prison, David escapes London and takes refuge in Dover with Betsey Trotwood, his aunt. This retelling has been shortened and illustrated for younger readers.

Alexandre Dumas' classic tale, published in 1844, is retold here for younger readers. This is the story of d’Artagnan, a country boy who travels to Paris to seek his fortune and, hopefully, to join the Musketeers—the bodyguards of the King of France. He meets three musketeers called Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Together they foil a dangerous plot against King Louis and his Queen, Anne—and against their own lives.