Big George: A Novel - Softcover

Pringle, Eric

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1550377124 ISBN 13: 9781550377125

Publisher: Annick Press, 2001

Synopsis

Big George is a wonderful tale of friendship and understanding set amidst a fantastical medieval background full of plots and high excitement. Middle readers will love the adventure, the humor, and the final blowout triumph of George!

This is the story of the first visitor to England from Outer Space. The year is 1103. England is a land of darkness and wilderness, and her people believe in fairies, dragons, and the possibility of magic.

Into this land with a loud, thundering crash falls a Stranger. He lands in the middle of a forest during the night. The Stranger is a lot like the people of Earth, only taller -- much, much taller, with blue and green hair, and a face so pale it glows like a distant star. As can be expected when one lands with such a bang, there are a few bumps and bruises, and the memory of where he came from and why he was sent are bumped right out of his head.

As the Stranger wanders out of the forest, he is first spotted by a frightened poacher, Simpkin Sampkins, who runs to spread the word. Luckily, he next encounters Tilly, the Miller's daughter. She is kind and pretty, and happy to make a new friend. Tilly exclaims, "By George," when she first spies this huge being, and the name sticks. Even though Tilly and George speak different languages, they understand each other very well and become fast friends.

And so the adventure begins. Tilly and George must defend themselves and each other from many foes. First there is the greedy Miller, with his selfish plot to sell Tilly to be wed to the gruesome Bones Lousewort, son of the local Baron. Then there are the simple villagers, scared of something so strange (and so big), who attack George because of their fears. There is evil Baron Lousewort and his two nasty cronies, Silas Sludge and Bartholomew Bog, who have a devious plan to kill George. And though they don't know it, Tilly and George are up against time itself, as George's internal clock gets set to send him to sleep for nine hundred years. Join the fun as these two friends face great trials -- and win!

About this title

About the Author:

Eric Pringle has done many dramatizations for television and radio, including Doctor Who and several Thomas Hardy novels. This is his first children's book. Eric lives in Ledbury, England.

Colin Paine is the illustrator of The Conjuror's Cookbook (Bloomsbury). He lives in Worthing, England.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:

Foreword

This book is about England's very first visitor from outer space.

It is the story of how he got his name and how, helped by the smallest of girls, he became the Biggest Hero England Ever Had.

These things happened a long time ago, in the Year of Our Lord 1103.

Close your eyes. Imagine that time...

The Norman Conquest happened only thirty-seven years ago, and now a Norman, King Henry the First, sits upon the throne of England. He has two and a half million subjects, most of them as poor as church mice.

England is full of dark places. There are deep, dark, trackless forests roamed by deer and wolves and wild boar. There are dark mountain regions where people are afraid to wander and wildcats hiss in the mist. And everywhere the people believe in the dark power of magic, in wizards and witches and the power of potions.

In this half-civilized land, mighty barons hunt in the forests by day, for sport. At night, hungry poachers steal through the trees looking for food.

This is everyday life in the Year of Our Lord 1103.

Nothing extraordinary is happening. But it's about to:

 

Listen!

Do you hear that noise?

Something is approaching very fast. Heading for England.

Here it comes...

About this edition

• Publisher: Annick Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1550377124
• ISBN 13: 9781550377125
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160
• Illustrator: Paine Colin