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Editor's Choice:
 TOM TULLY & JOE COLQUHOUN: JOHNNY RED - RED DEVIL RISING
Titan Books HB
Britain's best-loved aerial combat comic returns in a gorgeous library
edition! Continuing the adventures of Johnny Redburn, discharged from the RAF
for striking an officer. Taking to the skies in a stolen Hurricane, he meets the
Falcon Squadron of the 5th Soviet Air Brigade, and begins his fight against
Germany from the other side of the Iron Curtain! The classic series by Tom Tully
(Roy of the Rovers) and Joe Colquhoun (Charleys War) includes a feature by
comics legend Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher, War Stories).
 MABEL ESTHER ALLAN: MARGARET FINDS A FUTURE
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
Margaret Finds A Future is one of the most rare of Mabel Esther Allan’s titles, and only a few collectors have copies.
When 17 year old Margaret has to leave school and face a new life, she travels in mid winter to stay with an unknown aunt in Norfolk., the custodian of Great Melveney Hall. At first Margaret finds life very difficult but she grows to love the house and what she is doing. She makes friends, and eventually finds a job after her own heart. When spring comes to Melveney, she looks forward with hope and excitement towards the future.
We have included in the book not only some of the author’s comments on the setting and the cover, but also a short story, Danger on the Saltings, also set in Norfolk, which is not even in her privately printed collections. This has become a personal favourite of mine - Margaret spends a great deal of time on the coastal paths near to where I live, and describes in loving detail Beeston Hill, Beeston Church and the Runtons - this is a brilliant, lovely book, one with which I have fallen completely in love. Sensationally good.
 CLARE MALLORY: LEITH AND FRIENDS
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
Leith and Friends charts the development of the friendship between Leith and Persis, an older girl. It shows how Leith matures from her unhealthy ‘crush’ on Persis to a much healthier view of the relationship and the beginning of a real friendship between them when Leith comes to see the older girl as she really is and not the unrealistic object of her thoughts.
This is the only one of New Zealander Clare Mallory’s books to be published only in England, and Patricia Caldwell, author of the Vivians books, has written a brilliant introduction on Secondary Education in England and New Zealand in the 1940s. (Juliet Oversees was published in both England and Australia, and all the others published only in Australia.) And Leith and Juliet were the only books to be set in England. School girl crushes (on older girls, prefects and even on teachers, have been part of the genre for as long as I can remember, but they are usually a background theme while something bigger and more important is taking place. Clare Mallory, one of the finest school story authors of them all, takes this one stage further and places the theme centre stage, and uses the story to resolve it. A sensational read, and what a sensational front cover! Just brilliant...
 THE BEST OF THE VICTOR BOOK FOR BOYS
(Published by Carlton - Available to buy from all good bookstores and online)
2011 is the fiftieth anniversary year of 'The Victor' comic, Britain's 'top
boys' paper for War, Sport and Adventure'. Following 2010's successful
publication of "The Best of the Victor", Prion's sequel is this rip-roaring
anthology of the best stories from "The Victor Book for Boys", which was the
bestselling DC Thomson annual published from 1964 to 1994. In its heyday in the
1960s "The Victor comic" sold over half a million copies a week, with "The
Victor Book for Boys" selling over a quarter of a million copies a year. DC
Thomson's long-serving editor Morris Heggie has selected the very best and most
evocative two-colour stories and picture stories from the 31 annuals to make one
crackingly good nostalgiafest that will appeal not only to Britain's millions of
grown-up Victor fans but also to their children who can be introduced to these
Best of British comic-strip adventure yarns for the very first time. Published in hardback by Prion, £12.99. Available to buy from all good bookstores and online. This is what Carlton does best - revisiting the past. Every week I go to boot sales and look out for annuals from the 1960s, even the 1950s, and have been amazingly lucky, picking up Lion and Tiger Annuals, sometimes for as little as £1, and sometimes in extraordinary good condition. Titan Books recently published a Roy of the Rovers book that had the look and feel of just such an annual, and Carlton have been doing it also, first with THE BEST OF JUNE AND SCHOOLFRIEND, and then with THE BEST OF THE VICTOR 50 YEARS, and now with the sensational THE BEST OF THE VICTOR BOOK FOR BOYS, which collects material from the Annuals. This was never one of my titles - I worked as a paper boy for many years and my first choices were always LION and TIGER - I read other boys' copies of the EAGLE for DAN DARE etc., but I always preferred my own titles. In those days, of course, there were loads to choose from. Although I delivered it, I never paid VICTOR that much attention, but now, looking back, I wish I had. This is a beautifully reproduced book, very much like an annual from the 1960s, perfectly printed, perfectly presented - the perfect Christmas gift for Granddad, I would say.
 50 YEARS OF COMMANDO - A HOME FOR HEROES
Carlton Books HB
50 years of "Commando"...home for heroes...and still going strong! And now
you...yes, YOU...can advance shoulder to shoulder with the bravest and the best
through six of the finest "Commando" stories ever...brought together in this
battling book for all "Commando" fans out there! When the toughest of the tough
get going, the action accelerates from page to blistering page. Can you cope
with the pressure? Are you sure? Good, because we're also going to unleash the
stinging power of 50 full-colour covers on you as well. That's one for every
hard-fought year, and you'll need nerves of steel to get in close...combat
close...to pick out the finer details of these startling illustrations. You just
know it will be well worth the risk. And all the gen from the classified
documents which shield the secrets of "Commando" comic books will be there too
for you to explore and enjoy. The truth is revealed about the 50-year fight from
day one of a carefully planned and well executed campaign to bring you the best
of the action to rock you right back on your heels. You've proved you can take
all that's thrown at you by reading this far, so don't miss out on this mother
of all battle books. Remember what they say. Who dares wins...and that could be
YOU! For my review of this amazing title please click here to see the separate feature page...
 MALCOLM SAVILLE: MYSTERY MINE
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
A Lone Pine adventure set around Goathland and Whitby in the North Yorkshire Moors. Jon leaned over the parapet of the old mine and shouted, “Hi! Anybody down there?” His voice boomed and echoed down the shaft, but the only sound to break the silence was the distant drip of water far below.
The situation in which the Lone Piners, holidaying in Yorkshire, soon find themselves turns out to be much more than peculiar, and the mysterious visitor to the old mine on the land Harriet Sparrow’s grandfather is buying becomes very much their business.
The GGBP edition has an introduction by ViV Turner and a publishing history by John Allsup and Mike McGarry. The GGBP edition of Mystery Mine was published on 25 October 2011
This has to be my favourite Lone Piner story - the boys want to go off on their own for a camping expedition, and Penny, who's starting to become very friendly with Jon, feels left out. Eventually, of course, they all join up and the adventure really takes off with some familiar villains turning up - the twins are on sparkling form, but it's the blossoming romantic feelings of the teenagers that is of most interest, and which will strike a chord in anyone who was growing up with these wonderful stories at the time they were written. Malcolm Savile at his very best, and the usual comprehensive and informative extras from GGBP are an added bonus.
 SALLY HAYWARD: ANTONIA FOREST'S KINGSCOTE SPRING TERM
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
Spring Term is set at Kingscote School in the months following Run Away Home. To Lawrie’s delight one of the events planned for an end of term Open Day will enable her to act, but she is bitterly disappointed at Miss Keith’s choice of play. Meanwhile Nicola’s singing ability is throwing her reluctantly into the limelight, and an exchange of letters between herself and Patrick, whose friendship might be developing into something more, causes more problems for Ginty than anyone could ever have imagined. Sally Hayward has read Antonia Forest since she was about 10 years old. She has gradually collected all the titles, some from GGBP, and has remained deep in them, ever since reading them. Spring Term has been edited by Tig Thomas, not only a professional editor, but for whom Antonia Forest is a major favourite, and has the approval of Antonia Forest’s Literary Executor, Sue Sims. Tig Thomas comments: I’m very wary about continuations and my first reaction on being sent Spring Term to read was one of dismay. I didn’t believe anyone else would be able to do Antonia Forest’s style of writing and I didn’t want to wade through a substandard attempt. Then I started reading and relief spread through me. After two chapters, I was emailing Clarissa in my excitement to say that it was good and GGBP had to do the book. I felt quite simply as if I was being given a chance to learn what happened next in the Marlows' story. I woke up the morning after I’d read Spring Term with the warm feeling you get when something’s gone unexpectedly well with your world – I had read a whole new book about Nick, Patrick, and the rest, and I was still basking in the pleasure of it.
The first thing that stuck me about this wonderful story is that the children say words like "damn!" - I'm not a huge Antonia Forest fan, nor can I profess to have read others of her titles, but this one I really, really enjoyed. The interplay between the girls is sparkling, witty and captivating, and the plot, such as it is, fairly bounces along. I know it's not by Antonia Forest, and I'm not qualified to say whether or not it's in her style - I only know I loved it, and as usual, the GGBP treatment is second to none.
 ELINOR BRENT-DYER: KENNELMAID NAN
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
17 year old Annabel (Nan) Peters, has always longed to be a vet but she fails her General Certificate. The Head of her school contacts a friend of hers, Miss Frome, who runs the Assisi Kennels, and is in need of an assistant. Miss Frome agrees to take Nan on a six months trial, and gives her one warning - to always tell her the truth.. Miss Frome is kind but Averil Pearson, the senior assistant, is unfriendly and makes things difficult for Nan. The description of duties of a kennelmaid at that time are completely accurate, and are born out by the introduction to our edition by Adrianne Fitzpatrick, which reveals how a young girl called Stella went to work at Michaelchurch Court (the known setting for Elinor’s Chalet books).
It's nice to get to read a non-Chalet School EBD, and this terrifically engaging yarn encapsulates the modes and morals of the time just perfectly. Nan is a fantastic character and the interaction with the animals shows EBD's love of animals in a subtle but totally enjoyable way. A lovely, inspiring and heartwarming story.
 JOSEPHINE ELDER: THE SCHOLARSHIP GIRL
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
The scholarship girl, Monica Baxter, has problems at Greystones School which are caused by her own attitude. She’s been badly advised that people like her should have no time for games but must work hard all the time in order to gain more scholarships. So, although she enjoys games and likes the games captain, Monica calmly informs her that she won’t be doing games. She’s quite unfazed by her new surroundings and simply refuses to conform or to see why she should do as the prefects tell her. Everything changes when she meets the fairy-like Francesca and the two become inseparable. Francesca's academic Cambridge family believes in a healthy balance between work and play. Monica learns to enjoy life, especially after a stay with the family and becomes a much happier and nicer person as a result. She and Francesca progress up the school, excelling at both work and games until they are both ready for Cambridge.
There are two kinds of girls' school stories. The first sees our girls having high adventures, capturing criminals, unveiling sinister plots or even simply saving each other from drowning or falling down the cliffs. The second is all about relationships, friendships and developing oneself. Clare Mallory and Joesphine Elder fall into the second camp - I enjoy both, of course, which is why I am perfectly happy to read Enid Blyton alongside these others. Monica is a terrific little character, highly spirited, with a mistrust of authority and a determination to succeed academically, which is why she chooses not to do games, which she would excel at. It all gets resolved quite amenably, of course, and it's a joy to read. Mallory thought that Elder had written the very best ever girls' school story, and dedicated one of her own books to her. Brilliant stuff.
 BRADSHAW'S GUIDE - THE 1866 HANDBOOK REPRINTED
Middleton Press
Bradshaw's Guide was the title employed on BBC TV in 2010 for a book
containing four issues of Bradshaw's Handbook for Railway Tourists, bound
especially for the series. The Book covers Great Britain plus all of Ireland
and describes the main features and historic buildings of the principle towns,
in the flowery style of a well spoken Victorian person. The main inns are
mentioned, along with the location of the telegraph offices, so important before
telephones. The 14 pages of multiple illustrations are shown in a separate
section, as are the 18 double-page maps. The announcements by the railway
companies regarding tours and special arrangements are included, many being
particularly imaginative and detailed. The advertisements by hoteliers give
an interesting insight into life in those times and the expectations of
travellers. The final fascinating pages include general advertisements for cures
and health problems, the newly created kitchen range, improved oil lighting,
portmanteaus (cases) and many diverse devices no longer used, such as a knife
polisher.
Watching Michael Portillo making those fascinating rail journeys armed with a copy of BRADSHAWS was a terrific treat for a nostalgia-buff like me. And now Middleton Press have published the very book Portillo was carrying, reprinted just as it was in 1866! Reading through it, the first thing you notice is the importance of telegraph stations, and villages close to cities and towns appear to have been measured by their distance from such stations! An amazing collection of facts about the places visited on the various legs of Brandshaw's journeys, and one wonders if he made these observations during a single such journey, or if he travelled and retravelled that amazing network of railway lines in order to populate such an immensely influential book (or series of books - I believe they were originally published in separate volumes). The advertisements, as always, are fascinating from that era, and the illustrations look as though they might have been B&W renditions of someone's watercolours - if Bradshaw's himself, then I am doubly impressed. A fascinating and engaging gazetteer from a time when we valued our railways. This is a brilliant publication, one that will be of interest not only to railway enthusiasts, but also to people wishing to study the architecture and lie of the land in the late 1860s. A fantastic book.
 MONICA EDWARDS: PUNCHBOWL MIDNIGHT
Girls Gone By Publishing PB
Midnight, the first calf to be born at Punchbowl Farm, is to be the founder of a fine herd of Jersey cattle. Now she has jumped out of her pen and vanished into the scrubland of the Devil's Punchbowl and it is almost too much for Dion to bear. Then there are problems with the wild deer and Dion threatens to shoot them. Watching the deer and wondering how to save them, Lindsey makes a new friend - Tamzin from the Romney Marsh books. To their delight, they spot Midnight again - but she is running with the deer, now nearly as wild as them and immensely difficult to catch . . .
Shelley Edwards provides a new, wonderfully informative preface, Brian Parks two introductions and John Allsup the publishing history.
When I was young, I belonged to the Children's Book Club - each month the club would select a title for you - if you didn't like it, you could return it and elect to choose a different title from several others that were also available that month. I invariably couldn't be bothered repackaging and sending back the monthly selection, and ended up with rather an eclectic mix! I do remember having this book, and Monica Edwards Punchbowl Farm series was one of my favourites, so I would never have even considered sending this one back! This GGBP edition is, as always, perfect, and re-reading the story was a joy. It's a remarkable achievement on the part of Ms Edwards to write a story that doesn't really contain anything to get you excited, and yet still to capture and hold your attention simply by recounting what happens on the farm, and how the youngsters and the adults cope with the daily rigours of animal husbandry. It's a riveting read, gentle, soothing at the same time, and a fine story to add to your GGBP collection.
 GWENDOLINE COURTNEY: MERMAID HOUSE
Girls Gone By Publishers PB
It is not very often that one finds an almost unpublished novel by an author one loves, but such is the case with Mermaid House by Gwendoline Courtney. It was never published in book form, but only in The Salisbury Journal, over 48 instalments from 9th January 1953. The Greystone children are apprehensive about the prospect of spending a summer with their mother’s aunt, the formidable and aptly named Miss Pendragon, who lives in Tremorvyn Cove, Cornwall. However, almost from the moment of their arrival mysteries abound, and as the story unfolds, the Greystones are left with many questions but no answers about what is happening on Tremorvyn Point, and why. Then they team up with Agnes Morvyn and Ned Pengelly, and between them they unravel this exciting story with its surprising conclusion. It is Gwendoline Courtney at her best.
Another winner from GGBP, this time a story by Gwendoline Courtney that was never previously published in book form at all! Charming characters and excellent scene-setting make this a brilliant read - a far cry from her "Wild Lorings", but full of atmosphere and bravura. An excellent encapsulation of life in the 1950s, before the social and cultural revolution that changed the western world forever. Brilliant.
 ELINOR M BRENT-DYER: JO OF THE CHALET SCHOOL
Girls Gone By Publishing PB
Jo of the Chalet School is one of the favourites of all time. The School is now in its second and third terms, and the book includes that wonderful Christmas with the Mensch family. This is also the story when several important characters arrive at the Chalet School: the Robin, Rufus, the Dennys (and Tristan Denny is given his nickname), and Miss Durrant who also introduces the teaching folk dancing. The Chaletian begins and of course we have the flood ... Ann Mackie-Hunter has written an introduction, A School Devoted to all Things Folk and Catherine Bradley has written a short story, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The GGBP edition includes Nina K Brisley’s lovely four black and white plates.
This is one of all-time favourite Chalet School titles, and the one which introduced me to the series in the first place. The story is possibly one of the very best girls' school stories ever written, and this wonderful new edition from GGBP is fantastic. As always, there's a complete publishing history including cover art from previous and vintage editions, and the introductory material alone is worth the cover price, never mind the beautiful Nina K Brisley illustrations. The complete package. Brilliant.
 PATRICIA CALDWELL: STRANGERS AT VIVIANS
Girls Gone By Publishing PB
Forty years after the first two Vivians book were published, Patricia Caldwell returned to the series and wrote four further books. Long overdue sequels aren’t always a good idea, but in our opinion these later books take the series from strength to strength and have an increased depth and maturity that makes these very satisfying books to read. Patricia Caldwell is especially good at taking a well-established school situation – the arrival of the shy new girl, a prefect’s problems with disciplines or a school argument, say – and looking at it from an absolutely fresh angle, avoiding the usual clichés of the school story and bringing a real sense of rounded, true-to-life people to her stories.The sequels were privately published by Patricia in the 1990s and 2000s. Tig Thomas, who has worked in children’s book publishing for over 20 years and who has recently edited Margaret Biggs’ Kate at Melling and Changes at Melling as well as the non fiction True to the Trefoil and Monica Edwards The Authorised Biography, is editing the sequels for publication by GGBP. Patricia Caldwell would have preferred GGBP to start with these newer – and better – titles, but we felt you needed to know the Vivians story from the beginning. Hence, we have begun the series with Prefects at Vivians and Head Girl at Vivians (essential reading to know the story). Patricia has worked in close conjunction with Tig and has changed Strangers and in addition has written a short story to go with it. The school has to cope with the arrival of a large number of girls from a school which has recently closed down. The inevitable feud develops, splitting the school, much to the teachers’ dismay. The ingenious ways some girls use to fight it are far from predictable and its resolution is both thought-provoking and plausible. In another strand of the story, Eva Mihaly, a young girl who has escaped from her native Hungary, settles into school life and offers a startling new perspective on freedom which helps some of the girls come to their senses.
The premise of a girls' school having to absorb pupils from other schools which have had to close for some reason or other is not new, but Patricia Caldwell treats it as though it's her own original idea, and what ensues is totally delicious. STRANGERS AT VIVIANS is a tour de force of unbridled rivalry and enmities until something happens to bring the two communities together. Absolutely fantastic, and made all the more enjoyable by knowing that it was written comparatively recently and by an author who is very much still alive. Another brilliant winner from GGBP!
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Nostalgia Book Reviews
