Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
Dinah Maria Mulock Craik's Books(2)
The Little Lame Prince
Fantasy Dinah Maria Mulock was a talented author and poet. Among several of her children's classics are "The Adventures of a Brownie", followed by the world famous tale,"The Little Lame Prince".
Yes, he was the most beautiful Prince that ever was born. Of course, being a prince, people said that; but it was true besides. The Prince's christening was to be a grand affair. By six in the morning all the royal household had dressed itself in its very best; and then the little Prince was dressed in his best -his magnificent christening- robe; which proceeding his Royal Highness did not like at all, but kicked and screamed like any common baby. In truth, though very few knew the Prince in coming to the chapel had met with a slight disaster. His nurse - not his ordinary one, but the state nurse-maid - an elegant and fashionable young lady of rank, whose duty it was to carry him to and from the chapel, had been so occupied in arranging her train with one hand, while she held the baby with the other, that she stumbled and let him fall, just at the foot of the marble staircase. To be sure, she contrived to pick him up again the next minute; and the accident was so slight it seemed hardly worth speaking of. Consequently nobody did speak of it. The baby had turned deadly pale, but did not cry, so no person a step or two behind could discover anything wrong; afterward, even if he had moaned, the silver trumpets were loud enough to drown his voice. It would have been a pity to let anything trouble such a day of felicity. John Halifax, Gentleman
Romance The greatest romantic narrative novel of the early 19th Century, John Halifax, Gentleman, tells the story of an orphan boy whose first words in the story are "Sir, I want work; may I earn a penny?" By hard work, diligent study and an unshakeable faith in his God John attains wealth and happiness, despite much hardship and heartbreak throughout his life. The story chronicles the class movement of the time and gives us a remarkable description of social, political, and industrial change. Set in Gloucestershire in the heart of England and told by Phineas, his soul mate and lifelong friend, who observes John through all his glorious moments, self doubt and resolution, the story is simple, uplifting and heroic. It is a detailed study of a man and his family that also presents the listener with a broad view of Britain during one of its most troubled times. A genuine classic, most entertaining and certainly a tale which lives up to the appellation epic in its conception and delivery. 'John Halifax, Gentleman' was first published in 1856. Due to popular demand it has never been out of print. This is the first unabridged recording of Dinah Craik's masterpiece. You might like
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank Baum
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. It was originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900,and has since been reprinted countless times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of both the 1902 stage play and the extremely popular, highly acclaimed 1939 film version. The story chronicles the adventures of a girl named Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Thanks in part to the 1939 MGM movie, it is one of the best-known stories in American popular culture and has been widely translated. Its initial success, and the success of the popular 1902 Broadway musical Baum adapted from his story, led to Baum writing thirteen more Oz books. The original book has been in the public domain in the US since 1956.
Baum dedicated the book "to my good friend & comrade, My Wife", Maud Gage Baum. In January 1901, the publisher, the George M. Hill Company, completed printing the first edition, which probably totaled around 35,000 copies. Records indicate that 21,000 copies were sold through 1900.
Historians, economists and literary scholars have examined and developed possible political interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. However, the majority of the reading public simply takes the story at face value. 
