Penelope Hamilton is a young American lady, who travels abroad to Europe with two of her friends, Francesca and Salemina. Salemina is a classy woman, sophisticated and open to world, while Francesca is inflexibly, almost aggressively American. Together these ladies discover the British Isles, experiencing differences of England, Scotland and Ireland, and going through few adventures of their own, including romances, affairs and a marriage. For the final adventure, they cross to the main land and find their selves in the hills of Switzerland and in the sunny Venice. Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923) was an American educator and author of children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the Silver Street Free Kindergarten). With her sister during the 1880s, she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. Kate Wiggin devoted her adult life to the welfare of children in an era when children were commonly thought of as cheap labor. Table of Contents: Penelope's English Experiences Penelope's Experiences in Scotland Penelope's Irish Experiences Penelope's Postscripts

Penelope Hamilton is a young American lady, who travels abroad to Europe with two of her friends, Francesca and Salemina. Salemina is a classy woman, sophisticated and open to world, while Francesca is inflexibly, almost aggressively American. Together these ladies discover the British Isles, experiencing differences of England, Scotland and Ireland, and going through few adventures of their own, including romances, affairs and a marriage. For the final adventure, they cross to the main land and find their selves in the hills of Switzerland and in the sunny Venice. Kate Douglas Wiggin (1856-1923) was an American educator and author of children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878 (the Silver Street Free Kindergarten). With her sister during the 1880s, she also established a training school for kindergarten teachers. Kate Wiggin devoted her adult life to the welfare of children in an era when children were commonly thought of as cheap labor. Table of Contents: Penelope's English Experiences Penelope's Experiences in Scotland Penelope's Irish Experiences Penelope's Postscripts

E. F. Benson's 'The Complete Miss Mapp & Queen Lucia Collection' is a delightful compilation of two influential novels that exemplify the satirical, comedic, and character-driven style of Benson's writing. Set in the fictional English villages of Tilling and Riseholme, the stories revolve around the social interactions and rivalries of their quirky inhabitants, with a keen eye for the absurdities of human behavior. Benson's keen observational skills and witty dialogue make these novels a joy to read, transporting the reader to a world filled with gossip, snobbery, and humorous misunderstandings. The collection showcases Benson's skillful blend of humor and social commentary, making it a standout in early 20th-century literature. E. F. Benson, a prolific writer known for his humorous and socially astute novels, drew inspiration from his own experiences in the upper-class society of his time. His nuanced portrayal of character dynamics and social hierarchies adds depth and complexity to the narratives, making them both entertaining and thought-provoking. I highly recommend 'The Complete Miss Mapp & Queen Lucia Collection' to readers who appreciate sharp wit, clever storytelling, and insightful commentary on human nature.

A poignant and bittersweet memoir from the distinguished British fiction writer Penelope Lively, Oleander, Jacaranda evokes the author's unusual childhood growing up English in Egypt during the 1930s and 1940s. Filled with the birds, animals and planets of the Nile landscape that the author knew as a child, Oleander, Jacaranda follows the young Penelope from a visit to a fellaheen village to an afternoon at the elegant Gezira Sporting Club, one milieu as exotic to her as the other. Lively's memoir offers us the rare opportunity to accompany a gifted writer on a journey of exploration into the mysterious world of her own childhood.

Everyone needs hugs and love in this offbeat, upbeat ode to the not-so-cuddly--and yet still sweet and beloved! Despite their lumpy, bumpy hide, toothy mouths stretched open wide, just like me and just like you, crocodiles need kisses too. Fun-to-read-aloud, rhyming text describes prickly porcupines, roaring tigers, and slithery snakes--not the most cuddly creatures, but still worthy of hugs and snuggles from their mamas! With a luscious and colorful palette, Crocodiles Need Kisses Too shows that animals (and children) don't have to be warm and fuzzy to be totally lovable.

A vibrant novel from Booker Prize winner Penelope Lively—a wry, wise story about the surprising ways lives intersect When Charlotte Rainsford, a retired schoolteacher, is accosted by a petty thief on a London street, the consequences ripple across the lives of acquaintances and strangers alike. A marriage unravels after an illicit love affair is revealed through an errant cell phone message; a posh yet financially strapped interior designer meets a business partner who might prove too good to be true; an old-guard historian tries to recapture his youthful vigor with an ill-conceived idea for a TV miniseries; and a middle-aged central European immigrant learns to speak English and reinvents his life with the assistance of some new friends. In this engaging, utterly absorbing and brilliantly told novel, Penelope Lively shows us how one random event can cause marriages to fracture and heal themselves, opportunities to appear and disappear, lovers who might never have met to find each other and entire lives to become irrevocably changed. Funny, humane, touching, sly and sympathetic, How It All Began is a brilliant sleight of hand from an author at the top of her game.