"The Moxons and the Brownes - an account of Charles St Denys Moxon and his family" is a vivid account of two families - the Moxons and the Brownes - who combined an entrepreneurial spirit with artistic and scientific prowess. Four marriages took place between members of these two families between 1787 and 1840, and their offspring, in the following hundred years produced a geologist, several bankers, explorers, soldiers, churchmen, botanists, philanthropists and the artist who illustrated Charles Dickens's early works. The author of this book, Bob Moxon Browne, QC, is a descendant of these two families. He is a leading lawyer in Great Britain but in his spare time Bob has been fascinated by family history and has researched his 19th century forebears in depth. This book is enhanced with almost seventy illustrations by, and of, members of these families.

'Phiz' - Hablot Knight Browne - was the great illustrator of Dickens' fiction. For over twenty-three years they worked together, and Phiz's drawings brought to life a galaxy of much-loved characters, from Mr Pickwick, Nicholas Nickleby and Mr Micawber, to Little Nell and David Copperfield. But, from the mystery of his birth onwards, Phiz himself led a life as rich as any novel. In this vivid, lively memoir - the first full biography, long-awaited by Victorian scholars - his great-great-granddaughter Valerie Browne Lester tracks the struggles of the abandoned Browne family and follows Phiz's path to marriage and fame, his travels around England and Ireland and work with Dickens, Lever, Trollope and others, and his colourful private life. Based on a mass of unpublished material, this enchanting book, packed with surprising and delicious illustrations, is a perfect present for all who love Dickens and enjoy the hidden byways of Victorian life.

Pupils will meet the literature requirements of the National Curriculum by studying these collections of short stories by pre-twentieth century authors.Readers of all abilities will gain increased comprehension of the stories from the integrated support material on every page.Pupils' interest is maintained by the large format and simple layout.A more complete picture of the authors is provided through completion of a number of 'compare and contrast' exercises, reinforcement activities and ovwerview sections at the end of each story.The National Curriculum requirement to read stories from other cultures and traditions is also covered by books in the series.