Books

If you think about British books nowadays all the rage amongst children and adults alike is the schoolboy wizard, Harry Potter, the creation of JK Rowling.

J. K. Rowling's books are best sellers around the world. For more information on the Harry Potter books visit the kidsreads.com web page.

Not all of Britain's famous authors are so modern. The playwright William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) and the novelist Charles Dickens (1812-1870) remain two of the most popular and widely known British writers. In addition to writing 35 known plays, Shakespeare wrote 154 sonnets and sometimes acted in small parts in his own plays. His best known plays include: 'Romeo and Juliet', 'King Lear', 'Hamlet', and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Additional information on William Shakespeare can be found at the Bartleby website.

Charles Dickens began his writing career as a journalist, and all of his novels were first published serially in periodicals. His most famous works include 'Oliver Twist', 'A Christmas Carol', and 'David Copperfield'.

The novels of Jane Austen (1775-1817) are known for their subtlety of observation and irony, together with insights into the provincial middle-classes in the early part of the 19th century. Her works include 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Sense and Sensibility', and 'Emma'. Additional information on Jane Austen can be found at the Jane Austen Website.

The Bronte sisters, Charlotte (1816-1855), Emily (1818-1848) and Anne (1820-1849) were 19th-century novelists. Charlotte is best known for her novel 'Jane Eyre' and Emily for 'Wuthering Heights'.

One of the most widely known English poets is Geoffrey Chaucer (1345-1400). His best known work is 'The Canterbury Tales', a collection of tales by a group of pilgrims bound for the shrine of St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury. More information on Chaucer can be found at the Geoffrey Chaucer website.

The London poet, Andrew Motion, succeeded Ted Hughes as Poet Laureate in 1999. The Poet Laureate is a member of the Royal Household, appointed by the Royal Warrant, who composes poems in celebration of State occasions. The appointment of a Poet Laureate dates from the time of King James I (1603 - 1625).

Useful links:

http://www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk/
Lists Books of the Month for all ages

www.achuka.co.uk/books
Independent children's books site with reviews, notices, author interviews, author database.

http://www.ukchildrensbooks.co.uk/
A directory of the online world of UK children's books with links to authors, illustrators, publishers, organisations, review sites, and booksellers.

http://www.cbuk.info/
Children's Books UK Info. Resources to guide your choices.

http://childrensbooks.about.com/od/awardsbritian/
Here you'll find information about such major awards as the Carnegie Medal, Kate Greenaway Medal, and other UK awards for children's books.

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