Books published by publisher W.H. Allen / Virgin Books

A pretty girl arrives in the small village of Battenbun at the same time as a large eel is spotted in the river. Soon the woods are full of men out to catch both the eel and the girl. "Penguin Readers" is a series of simplified novels, film novelizations and original titles that introduce students at all levels to the pleasures of reading in English. Originally designed for teaching English as a foreign language, the series' combination of high interest level and low reading age makes it suitable for both English-speaking teenagers with limited reading skills and students of English as a second language. Many titles in the series also provide access to the pre-20th century literature strands of the National Curriculum English Orders. "Penguin Readers" are graded at seven levels of difficulty, from "Easystarts" with a 200-word vocabulary, to Level 6 (Advanced) with a 3000-word vocabulary. In addition, titles fall into one of three sub-categories: "Contemporary", "Classics" or "Originals". At the end of each book there is a section of enjoyable exercises focusing on vocabulary building, comprehension, discussion and writing. Some titles in the series are available with an accompanying audio cassette, or in a book and cassette pack. Additionally, selected titles have free accompanying "Penguin Readers Factsheets" which provide stimulating exercise material for students, as well as suggestions for teachers on how to exploit the Readers in class.

Shackleton's descendants take on the expedition that beat him, in the most extreme Antarctic challenge known to man.On the 29th of October 1908, a party of four men, led by Ernest Shackleton set out to be the first to reach the South Pole. Three months later, their mission was in ruins and they faced certain death if they carried on. Just 97 miles from the South Pole, Shackleton turned back.One hundred years on, in October 2008, a team that included descendants of that original party, led by Henry Worsley, set out from Shackleton's hut to celebrate the centenary of his expedition by retracing the exact 870 mile route and going on to finish the last 97 miles. This captivating book explores the history of the original expedition and the reasons behind its failure, and also captures the pioneering spirit and sense of adventure of the recent expedition.

Take a guided tour through the vast cosmos known as the Marvel Universe and meet the superheroes -- Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four -- and the supervillains -- Green Goblin, Magneto, Galactus, Doctor Doom -- whose adventures have thrilled millions of comic book readers. Comics insider Peter Sanderson recounts Marvel's main story lines and delves into the lives of major characters, showing how different writers shaped their fates. The illustrations include scenes from ground-breaking stories, showcasing the best work of important Marvel artists.