Showing results by publisher "Penguin Audio" in Historical Fiction

In 1938, the Nazis come to Vienna. They hate anyone who is different, especially Jewish people. Fritz and Kurt's family are Jewish, and that puts them in terrible danger. Fritz, along with his father, is taken to a Nazi prison camp, a terrible place, full of fear. When his father is sent to a certain death, Fritz can't face losing his beloved Papa. He chooses to go with him and fight for survival. Meanwhile, Kurt must go on a frightening journey, all alone, to seek safety on the far side of the world.

1933. When Ellie and her family lose everything, they flee to Echo Mountain to build a new life. Ellie runs wild, exploring the mountain's mysteries. But the one she can't solve is who's leaving the gifts for her: tiny, beautiful wooden carvings of animals and flowers, dotted around the mountain for her to find. Then Ellie's father has a terrible accident. Now he lies in a coma, while Ellie shoulders the blame for what happened. When she sets out to find a cure for him, she discovers Cate, the outcast witch, and Larkin, a wild mountain boy.

A tormented apprentice clock-maker, a deadly mechanical knight in armour - and the sinister Dr Kalmenius, who some say is the devil.... Wind up these characters, fit them into a story on a cold winter's evening, with the snow swirling down, and suddenly, life and the story begin to merge in a peculiarly macabre - and unstoppable - way. Almost like clockwork.

India, 1855. There are two kinds of magic in Chompa's world. The kind her mother favours: writing-magic, which anyone can do if they take the time. Write a spell in Farsi, and wait. It's calm, controlled, safe, says Ammi. It's slow, frustrating, boring, thinks Chompa. Then there's finger-magic, which only those descended from ancient djinn are born with. Immediate, powerful - and dangerous, for every act of finger-magic leaves a trace, and comes at a price.

Edie is fascinated by Victorian times, and she's just desperate to be cast in the lead role of her drama club production of Oliver. When she's given a real Victorian notebook she's determined to write the best story ever, all about a girl in a workhouse. But when she starts writing, something strange happens. Edie finds herself in Victorian London. She feels the same, but everything around her is completely different to what she knows. Soon, she realises she's living the life of another Edie Trimmer—and is in danger of being sent to a real workhouse!

Johnny Maxwell and his friends have to do something when they find Mrs Tachyon, the local bag lady, semi-conscious in an alley...as long as it's not the kiss of life. But there's more to Mrs Tachyon than a squeaky trolley and a bunch of dubious black bags. Somehow she holds the key to different times, different ears: including the Blackbury Blitz in 1941. Suddenly, now isn't the safe place Johnny once thought it was as he finds himself caught up more and more with then.

Twins Pew and Basket Church dream of escaping the gloomy orphanage where they grew up. Or, even better, the return of their unknown parents. But even in their wildest dreams, they never imagined the truth. They can travel through time! Armed only with perplexing clues to their past and a time travel talisman that is key to their future, Pew and Basket embark on an epic quest. Their voyage takes them from battlefields to pirate colonies, all in a race to uncover the secrets of their family – and outsmart time’s greatest villain.

Dodger is a tosher – a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger. Anyone who is anybody doesn’t. But when he rescues a young girl from a beating, suddenly everybody wants to know him. And Dodger’s tale of skulduggery, dark plans and even darker deeds begins….

London, 1665. Fourteen-year-old Christopher Rowe is apprenticed to master apothecary Benedict Blackthorn. In Blackthorn's shop, Christopher learns the delicate secrets of transforming simple ingredients into powerful medicines, potions and weapons. His beloved master guides him with a firm, steady hand - instilling him with confidence and independence that prove increasingly vital as Christopher learns of a mysterious cult preying on the most learned men in London.

Gwyn has never wanted to act like a lady. She much prefers fighting with her wooden sword to weaving intricate tapestries. When her father takes her to join the royal court at Tintagel, Gwyn meets Merlin: a wild young boy with unique powers, in desperate need of her help. They flee Tintagel together, and before long, the young prince, Arthur, joins them. So begins an epic journey across ancient Britain, involving giants, mermaids, unicorns and witches - and their discovery of a truly monstrous plan.

There's great excitement when an unexpected parcel arrives for Selina. A beautiful long evening dress and shiny satin party shoes - the best present a girl could ever wish for! She can hardly wait for a special occasion to wear them, but there's still a war on and all the grown-ups are far too busy to arrange a party. So Selina and her cousins decide to organise a pageant with acting, singing, dancing and dressing-up. Will Selina find the perfect role in which to put on her amazing new clothes?

It's December 1941, and almost Christmas, when a bomb falls on Deepdean School for Girls. May and Nuala are whisked away from the chaos and sent to stay with May's big sister, Hazel Wong, who is working at Bletchley Park. Within seconds, they're thrown straight into their most dangerous case yet. A codebreaker has been shot in what appears to be a tragic accident - until a suspicious and top-secret message is discovered in his pocket. Was he a spy, working for the other side? Was the message planted on him? Most importantly - was this murder?

Every dream has a Dream Master to control it. But Cy has such a vivid imagination that he has met his Dream Master and can travel with him through Time and Space to actually live his dreams. But what would happen if a character from Cy's dream decided to come and live in his Time and Space? Cy's about to find out. He's accidentally conjured up the Princess Shahr-Azad from Ancient Arabia - creator of the 1001 tales of Arabian Nights.

Rose and Lily and their little brother, Ned, live in an orphanage - a terrible place where the porridge is thin and cold and nobody smiles. One dark and stormy night, they decide enough is enough and run away. But hiding in the shadows, as they make their way through the dangerous back streets of London, is Mack the Knife: the most villainous of villains.... Hiding above the streets, leaping through the air, is Spring-Heeled Jack.

Tess loves to dance – even when her tummy is empty and her boots are pinching. She and her brothers and sisters are all alone in the world after their mum dies and their pa abandons them. They have to eat bread and dripping, and take in washing to earn a few pennies. How will they afford food – and milk for baby Ada? Tess’s big brother and sister go out to look for work, but Tess has to stay in class at The Ragged School and look after Ada too. But Tess is determined that even though she is poor, she will still get to go to the ball . . .

When Father is taken away unexpectedly, Roberta, Peter, Phyllis and their mother have to leave their comfortable life in London to go and live in a small cottage in the country. The children seek solace in the nearby railway station and make friends with Perks the Porter and the Station Master himself. Each day, Roberta, Peter and Phyllis run down the field to the railway track and wave at the passing London train, sending their love to Father.

Summer, 1941: London evacuees Harry and Rosie Morton are looking forward to a summer exploring the Lancashire coast with their new friends – and learning to tango as a surprise for Mum’s birthday. Until the twins learn two things: their awful cousin, Jasper, is coming to stay. Worse still: Dad is returning to the Western Front.

1897. Twelve-year-old Peggy Devona is a Whisperling: someone who can speak with the dead. It's a rare skill that she tries to keep secret from the rest of her quiet village, who fear anyone different. But when her best friend is accused of murder and thrown in prison, Peggy realises she must use her abilities to save Sally—and solve the case. Travelling to her uncle's psychic emporium, she finds herself surrounded by new friends, new enemies...and new spirits.

The New Cut Gang is a group of urchins ranging from six-year-old Sharky Bob to 13-year-old Bridie Malone. They inhabit the streets around Lambeth Walk and the New Cut, in 1892. In this second adventure, £10,000 worth of silver is stolen from the Gas-Fitters' Hall and the New Cut Gang are immediately on the case. They enlist the help of Orlando, the strongest man in the world, and the Gas-Fitters' Ball provides them with the perfect opportunity to expose the villain.

Lambeth, South London, 1894. Meet the New Cut Gang - Sharky Bob, Benny, Thunderbolt, Bridie and the Peretti twins: the greatest detectives since Sexton Blake. They inhabit the streets around Lambeth Walk and the New Cut, in 1894, a place bristling with gangsters, bookies, pickpockets, horse thieves and the occasional policeman. But who's passing counterfeit coins 'round Lambeth? Surely not Thunderbolt's dad, who's just been arrested.