Kevin Crossley-Holland Books

In a dingy shack in the less-than-desirable Indian neighborhood he calls home, twelve-year-old Anand is entrusted with a conch shell that possesses mystical powers. His task is to return the shell to its rightful home many hundreds of miles away. Accompanying him are Nisha, a headstrong but resourceful child of the streets, and a mysterious man of indeterminate age and surprising resources named Abadhyatta. His quest will take him farther from home than he's ever been and will teach him more than he ever imagined -- and it will force him to make a poignant decision that will change him forever.

Annie lives with her elderly parents in a remote cottage. She is used to being alone. Every day she walks by the lonely marsh to school. Only in winter, when the wind howls in the trees, is Annie ever afraid. Her sister Willa is pregnant and Annie is overjoyed when she comes home to have her baby. Annie tells Willa the names of local plants and Willa tells Annie about the ghost, murdered by highwaymen, who is said to haunt the old forge nearby. Then, on a terrible night, with the phone lines down, Willa goes into labor. Annie is terrified of the ghost, but knows she must brave the storm to fetch help. As she ventures into the night, a horseman swings into view. He offers to take Annie to town. Before she can protest, Annie finds herself lifted on to his saddle and off they set on an intense, dream-like journey. Only once he has deposited her safely on the doctor's doorstep, does the horseman reveal that he is the ghost she fears.

A celebration in words and pictures of the world of King Arthur. All the romance of Camelot in this glorious book, where legend, fact and conjecture blend together in a text that sparkles with colour and wit. It's theme is how the Arthurian legend fascinated and inspired all Europe in the middle Ages. Kevin Crossley Holland writes of Knights and ladies, tournaments and troubadours, castles and quests and the rituals of courtly love. He is entertainingly informative about small boys training to be knights, how difficult it was to put armour on, how you ate and dressed and chose gifts for your lady. And he introduces us to the great characters of the Arthurian world, such as Lancelot and Guinevere, Merlin, Morgan le Fay and of course, the mysterious King Arthur himself.

Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon, The Dream of the Rood, The Wanderer, and The Seafarer are among the finest surviving Anglo-Saxon poems, alongside various historical documents, laws, letters, charters, and charms. This collection offers a vivid portrayal of a people who transitioned from paganism to Christianity within two centuries, establishing England as a center of missionary activity and a focal point of European civilization. Included are significant works such as Deor, the Finnesburh fragment, and the Battle of Brunanburh, alongside the laws of Wihtred and Canute's letter to the English people. The narrative spans key historical events, from Vortigern's invitation in 449 to the battles of Ashdown and Hastings in 1066. It features poignant poems like The Wanderer, The Seafarer, and The Wife's Lament, as well as notable accounts of figures like King Alfred and Cuthbert. Additional texts include Caedmon's vision, Bede's reflections, and various legal documents, agreements, and riddles, providing insight into the culture, beliefs, and daily life of the Anglo-Saxon era. This anthology encapsulates a rich literary and historical heritage that shaped early medieval England.

It is 1199 and young Arthur de Caldicot is waiting impatiently to grow up and become a knight. One day his father's friend Merlin gives him a shining piece of obsidian and his life becomes entwined with that of his namesake, the Arthur whose story he sees unfold in the stone. In this many-layered novel, King Arthur is seen as a mysterious presence influencing not just one time and place but many. The 100 short chapters are almost like snapshots not only of the mythic tales of King Arthur, but the earthy, uncomfortable reality of the Middle Ages.

Set in the ninth century, the story revolves around Wulfstan, a sailor who captivates King Alfred with his adventurous tales of storms, races, and a frozen ruler. The narrative highlights Alfred's dedication to storytelling and education, as he strives to make literature accessible to his people by translating works into English. This beautifully illustrated collaboration between Kevin Crossley-Holland and Chris Riddell combines lyrical prose with historical context, celebrating the legacy of a West Saxon king who defended his realm against Viking invaders.

In a dramatic companion volume to Norse Myths, a Carnegie Medal winner revisits an ancient world of magic, mythology, and mountain trolls.Step back into a sweeping landscape of green glades and glaciers where dwarves, frost giants, and ghosts roam and where gods and goddesses work their magic for Middle Earth, sometimes crossing the great rainbow bridge to come to the aid of humans. Five gripping new tales by Kevin Crossley-Holland plumb Norse mythology as never before, while Jeffrey Alan Love's illustrations give the epic figures bold new life. Eerie, lyrical, and arresting, this must-have companion book to Norse Myths: Tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki is the ideal gift for fantasy and mythology fans as well as newcomers to Viking lore.

The extraordinary Scandinavian myth cycle is one of the most enduring, exciting, dramatic and compelling of the world's great stories. A series of intertwined tales which together form a strange and fantastical world teeming with gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters, battles and couplings, the Norse myths are as exciting to read as they are of vast cultural and historical importance. Taking us from the creation of the world through the building of Asgard's Wall to the final end in Ragnorak, and featuring the exploits and adventures of such legendary figures as Odin, Thor and Loki, "The Penguin Book of the Norse Myths" brings alive the passion, cruelty and heroism of these unforgettable stories.

The retelling of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table presents a richly illustrated narrative that captures the essence of Arthurian legends. It includes well-known tales like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, alongside lesser-known stories, creating a comprehensive exploration of the king's life—from his conception to his last battle. This masterful adaptation aims to engage and inspire a new generation of readers with its vivid storytelling and timeless themes of bravery, honor, and adventure.

Set in an enchanting ancient world filled with magic, this collection features captivating Norse tales that bring to life gods, goddesses, rock-giants, and mountain-trolls. Crafted by award-winning author Kevin Crossley-Holland and complemented by striking illustrations from Jeffrey Alan Love, these stories promise to engage and inspire readers of all ages, making it a remarkable companion to the acclaimed Norse Myths.

Delve in if you dare . . . This book is bursting with boggarts and sprinkled with spiteful marsh sprites; it groans with gruesome ghosts and is awash with wildmen. Full of fools, fiends, friendships and feuding families - there's something in here for every reader!

A girl with a task - A king who wants a wife - A lie at the heart of a story... A variation on the tale of Rumpelstiltskin where instead of spinning straw into gold, a magic imp helps the king's wife to spin five sacks of wool every day.

Arthur de Caldicot, on his way to becoming a man, witnesses the horrors of the Fourth Crusade in Venice and Zara, as well as the downfall of King Arthur's court, in his seeing stone

A wonderful mix of the best short stories. Some are old, some are new, some are scary, some are funny, but all the stories in this book will make you think. None are longer than two pages. There are stories about ghosts, supermarkets, animals, adventures, and more. Children will discover fun, quick reads in this enjoyable collection.

Arthur de Caldicot arrives at Holt to be squire to Lord Stephen and accompany him on crusade. It is an exciting and bewildering time for him as he finds a warhorse, is fitted with armour, and improves his fighting skills. He dreads a confrontation with his blood-father, the violent Sir William, and dreams of finding his true mother; he discovers girls - including the vivacious Winnie de Verdon whom he rescues from burning to death; he has to deal with the aftermath of a murder; he sees the sea for the first time, sails to France and finally takes the Cross. And meanwhile these events are reflected in his seeing stone, in stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Packed with incident, wonderful characters, and fascinating historical detail, and interwoven with brilliant retellings of Arthurian legends, this is a glorious follow-up to THE SEEING STONE.

In the village of Waterslain in Norfolk, in the 1950s, a fragment from a carved angel's wing is discovered. Maybe the wooden angels that once supported the church roof were not, after all, destroyed centuries ago, but spirited away to safety. Two children decide to find them. There are few clues, but a strange inscription on the church wall leads them into terrifying places - up to the top of the church tower, down a tunnel where they are nearly drowned. Annie dreams of the man who was sent in by Cromwell to smash up the church, and of angels flying and falling. For Sandy, whose father, an American airman, was recently killed, the angels bring comfort. The whereabouts of the angels becomes clear to them - but then they discover that other people are hunting for them, and are determined to stop the children at all costs. The friendship between the boy adjusting to a new life in his mother's village, and the girl whose family have always lived on their remote farm, the haunting atmosphere of the Norfolk saltmarshes, and the strong sense of the past still present, give richness to a tense and fast-paced story of detection for younger readers.

A young boy sees his namesake in a mirror, living in Wales, in 1199.

A collection of essays, reviews, lectures and articles spanning the career of Kevin Crossley-Holland, highlighting his position as the pre-eminent English writer of Myth and legend.

In kurzen Kapiteln wird jeweils ein Aspekt der Artussage oder des Lebens im Mittelalter in Wort und Bild behandelt. So entsteht ein facettenreiches Bild dieser Zeit. (Ab 10 Jahren.)

Das erste Buch der hochgelobten Artus-Saga von Kevin Crossley-Holland. Britannien, 1199: Der junge Artus träumt davon, ein mächtiger und berühmter Ritter zu werden, doch sein Vater, der Graf de Caldicot, scheint andere Pläne mit dem verträumten Jungen zu haben. Hin- und hergerissen zwischen seiner Loyalität den Eltern gegenüber und seinem Wunsch, aufregende Abenteuer zu erleben, erhält Artus eines Tages von seinem väterlichen Freund Merlin einen magischen Stein, der ihm rätselhafte Bilder zeigt und ihm die Geschichte eines Jungen erzählt, der Artus heißt wie er selbst. Während Artus in seinem magischen Spiegelstein miterlebt, wie sein Namensvetter Kämpfe und Turniere bestreitet, ein Schwert aus einem Stein zieht und zum König gekrönt wird, bemerkt er gleichzeitig, dass ihrer beider Schicksal auf geheimnisvolle Weise miteinander verknüpft ist. Es scheint fast so, als würde Artus in zwei Welten leben …

Arthur, naguère "à la croisée des chemins", est aujourd'hui prêt à s'engager dans le périple qui va mener les croisés à Jérusalem, pour conquérir la Ville sainte. A leur départ de France, ils doivent se rendre à Venise, où le Doge a accepté, moyennant finances, de faire construire suffisamment d'embarcations pour transporter hommes, chevaux, vivres et engins de siège. Arrivé à Venise, le jeune chevalier découvre que le Doge veut entraîner l'armée des croisés à Zara, sur la côte dalmate, afin de la reconquérir. Arthur apprend alors que les intérêts personnels priment parfois sur les idéaux proclamés haut et fort par "l'armée de Dieu". Et si sa foi reste vive, il commence à perdre ses illusions...

Eine abenteuerliche Pilgerreise durch das mittelalterliche Europa Meisterhaft und mitreißend erzählt Autor mehrfach ausgezeichnet Wunderbare weibliche Heldin, mit Mut, Temperament und Abenteuerlust Britannien, 1203: Für Gatty, ein 15-jähriges Waisenkind, beginnt ein neues Leben: Sie wird Kammerzofe bei Lady Gwyneth de Ewloe. Und das, obwohl sie ihr ganzes bisheriges Leben auf dem Feld gearbeitet hat. Voller Begeisterung stürzt sich Gatty auf ihre neuen Aufgaben am Hof ihrer warmherzigen Herrin und sie lernt Lesen, Schreiben und Singen. Und dann stehen ihr sogar noch aufregendere Dinge bevor: Gemeinsam mit Lady Gwyneth und sieben anderen Pilgern begibt sich Gatty auf eine abenteuerliche Reise, die sie ins Heilige Land führen soll. Zu Fuß, auf Pferden und mit dem Schiff führt sie ihr Weg von England durch Frankreich über die Alpen nach Venedig und schließlich nach Jerusalem. Doch die Reise wird von vielen Gefahren überschattet. Werden die Pilger ihre Heimat je wiedersehen? Kevin Crossley-Holland zeichnet ein farbenprächtiges Gemälde der mittelalterlichen Welt, er beschreibt das harte Leben der Menschen zur damaligen Zeit, und vor allem hat er eine Protagonistin erschaffen, die der Leser sofort ins Herz schließt.

Alte germanische Heldensage über die Bezwingung des Ungeheuers Grendel durch den Ritter Beowulf. (ab 9).

„Hořící led, sžíravý plamen; tak se zrodil život.“ Tento mimořádný cyklus skandinávských mýtů patří k nejtrvalejším, nejdramatičtějším, nejpoutavějším a nejvíce vzrušujícím příběhům světové historie. Kniha severských mýtů přináší poutavé zpracování těchto příběhů i modernímu čtenáři. Zavede nás do okamžiků samotného stvoření světa, budeme svědky vztyčení hradeb Ásgardu a spatříme zánik všehomíra v den Ragnaröku. Povíme si, jak Thór získal své kladivo, jak přišel Ódin o oko, jak strašnou cenu bohové zaplatili za spoutání vlka Fenriho a proč se nikdy nevyplatilo důvěřovat šibalovi Lokimu. Severské mýty nejsou jen fascinujícím vyprávěním, mají i nesmírnou kulturní a historickou váhu. Kevin Crossley-Holland oživuje v této zajímavé knize vášeň, krutost i hrdinství těchto nezapomenutelných příběhů.