The River

By the bestselling author of Black Narcissus and The Greengage Summer ' The River will make you laugh, make you cry and, in its way, change you forever' JULIE MYERSON 'Her prose is pure, delicate, and gently witty' NEW YORK TIMES 'Bold, beautiful . . . everyone's appetites will be satisfied' ELLE The River is Rumer Godden's beautiful tribute to India and childhood, made into a film by Jean Renoir. And in a preface for this novel she explains how the classic tale came to be written. Harriet is caught between two worlds: her older sister is no longer a playmate, her brother is still a little boy. And the comforting rhythm of her Indian childhood - the sounds of the jute factory, the colourful festivals that accompany each season and the eternal ebb and flow of the river on its journey to the Bay of Bengal - is about to be shattered by a tragic event. Intense, vivid, and with a dark undertow, The River is a poignant portrait of the loss of a young girl's innocence.

By the bestselling author of Black Narcissus and The Greengage Summer ' The River will make you laugh, make you cry and, in its way, change you forever' JULIE MYERSON 'Her prose is pure, delicate, and gently witty' NEW YORK TIMES 'Bold, beautiful . . . everyone's appetites will be satisfied' ELLE The River is Rumer Godden's beautiful tribute to India and childhood, made into a film by Jean Renoir. And in a preface for this novel she explains how the classic tale came to be written. Harriet is caught between two worlds: her older sister is no longer a playmate, her brother is still a little boy. And the comforting rhythm of her Indian childhood - the sounds of the jute factory, the colourful festivals that accompany each season and the eternal ebb and flow of the river on its journey to the Bay of Bengal - is about to be shattered by a tragic event. Intense, vivid, and with a dark undertow, The River is a poignant portrait of the loss of a young girl's innocence.

ONE OF THE OBSERVER THRILLERS OF THE YEAR: 'GLORIOUS PROSE AND RAZOR-SHARP TENSION' 'LYRICAL AND ACTION-PACKED ' Guardian 'I COULDN'T TURN THE PAGES FAST ENOUGH' Clare Mackintosh 'IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN, OR FORGET ' Sunday Mirror 'GLORIOUS DRAMA AND LYR ICAL FLAIR Denise Mina, New York Times Two friends Wynn and Jack have been best friends since their first day of college, brought together by their shared love the great outdoors. The adventure of a lifetime When they decide to canoe down the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate the ultimate wilderness experience: no phones, no fellow travellers, no way of going back. A wild ride But as a wildfire starts to make its way towards them, their trip becomes a desperate race for survival. And when a man suddenly appears, claiming his wife has vanished, the fight against the raging flames becomes a much deadlier game of cat and mouse.

ONE OF THE OBSERVER THRILLERS OF THE YEAR: 'GLORIOUS PROSE AND RAZOR-SHARP TENSION' 'LYRICAL AND ACTION-PACKED ' Guardian 'I COULDN'T TURN THE PAGES FAST ENOUGH' Clare Mackintosh 'IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN, OR FORGET ' Sunday Mirror 'GLORIOUS DRAMA AND LYR ICAL FLAIR Denise Mina, New York Times Two friends Wynn and Jack have been best friends since their first day of college, brought together by their shared love the great outdoors. The adventure of a lifetime When they decide to canoe down the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate the ultimate wilderness experience: no phones, no fellow travellers, no way of going back. A wild ride But as a wildfire starts to make its way towards them, their trip becomes a desperate race for survival. And when a man suddenly appears, claiming his wife has vanished, the fight against the raging flames becomes a much deadlier game of cat and mouse.

A psychedelic adventure story of friendship, peril, gender questions, and foraging in two floating villages, perfect for 5-8 year olds — the latest fantasy world from beloved writer and illustrator Claude Ponti. In two floating villages on the river Longo live a pair of boat-faring communities, sailing where their whim or the current takes them. The Oolongs are known for the delicious roots, fruits, and flowers they gather; the Kukichas pick healiherbs, and prepare powerful potions that help them feel their best. Both communities foster an atmosphere of openness and play in all aspects of life, including where gender is concerned. For Lu Cha (an Oolong boy) and Ali Roo (a Kukicha girl), it's only natural that gender can be chosen, tried out, and reconsidered as each child sees fit. All is well in this idyllic world until suddenly, from far beyond the shiverbanks and the boobam brambles, a mysterious beast comes to prowl. Claude Ponti develops parallel utopian worlds where two communities, governed by values of kindness, openness, inventiveness, and the pursuit of beauty, end up realizing they need each other. In Claude Ponti’s wonderfully detailed illustrations and sparkling wordplay, skillfully translated by Margot Kerlidou and Alyson Waters, young readers will find a faraway world of pleasure, fright, and friendship.

A psychedelic adventure story of friendship, peril, gender questions, and foraging in two floating villages, perfect for 5-8 year olds — the latest fantasy world from beloved writer and illustrator Claude Ponti. In two floating villages on the river Longo live a pair of boat-faring communities, sailing where their whim or the current takes them. The Oolongs are known for the delicious roots, fruits, and flowers they gather; the Kukichas pick healiherbs, and prepare powerful potions that help them feel their best. Both communities foster an atmosphere of openness and play in all aspects of life, including where gender is concerned. For Lu Cha (an Oolong boy) and Ali Roo (a Kukicha girl), it's only natural that gender can be chosen, tried out, and reconsidered as each child sees fit. All is well in this idyllic world until suddenly, from far beyond the shiverbanks and the boobam brambles, a mysterious beast comes to prowl. Claude Ponti develops parallel utopian worlds where two communities, governed by values of kindness, openness, inventiveness, and the pursuit of beauty, end up realizing they need each other. In Claude Ponti’s wonderfully detailed illustrations and sparkling wordplay, skillfully translated by Margot Kerlidou and Alyson Waters, young readers will find a faraway world of pleasure, fright, and friendship.