Eva Ibbotson – författare

In A Song for Summer, bestselling award-winner Eva Ibbotson propels you into idyllic beautiful Austria and a love story set in the shadow of gathering war.'Discovering Eva Ibbotson’s books is one of the nicest things that’s ever happened to me' – Marian Keyes, author of Rachel's HolidayIn the spring of 1937, Ellen Carr abandons grey, dreary London to become housekeeper at an experimental school in Austria, where she soon knows she's found her calling.Swept into an idyllic world of mountains, music, eccentric teachers and wayward children, Ellen brings order and joy to all around her. But it's the handsome, mysterious gardener, Marek, who intrigues her. As Hitler's troops march across Europe, Ellen finds she has promises to keep, even if it means sacrificing her future happiness . . .Escape into more classic romance with Eva Ibbotson's: The Morning Gift, The Secret Countess, A Company of Swans, Magic Flutes and Madensky Square.

Sweeping across countries, class and music, Eva Ibboton's classic historical romance, Magic Flutes, is a richly imagined tale of intrigue and identity.In the spring of 1922, young Austrian Princess Theresa-Maria – known to her ancient aunts as 'Putzerl' – abandons her crumbling castle and her royal duties. Disguising herself simply as Tessa, she enrolls as under wardrobe mistress of the International Opera Company and soon loses herself in the intoxicating world of the Viennese opera.But when Guy Farne, an Englishman looking to impress his new fiancée, arrives in Austria and employs the Company to perform at his newly purchased Austrian estate, he finds himself fascinated by the under wardrobe mistress, and Tessa finds it increasingly difficult to keep her two lives separate . . .'I have binged on Eva Ibbotson . . . her elegantly written, witty and well-observed fables' – Nigella Lawson, The TimesRediscover Eva Ibbotson, award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, in her sweeping historical romances, including The Morning Gift, A Song For Summer, The Secret Countess (originally published as A Countess Below Stairs), Madensky Square and A Company of Swans. Magic Flutes was originally published as The Reluctant Heiress.

'Blending history and tragedy with an irresistible wit and verve.' – The TimesThe Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson is an exciting story of friendship and determination during the Second World War, from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan. Illustrated with a gorgeous updated cover by Katie Hickey. Tally Hamilton is furious to hear she is being sent from London to a horrid, stuffy boarding school in the countryside. And all because of the stupid war. But Delderton Hall is a far more interesting place than Tally ever imagined, and an exciting school trip to the beautiful and luscious kingdom of Bergania whisks Tally into an unexpected adventure . . .Will she be able to save her new friend, Prince Karil, from terrible danger before it's too late?

Award-winner Eva Ibbotson's hugely entertaining The Star of Kazan is a timeless classic for readers of any age. Perfect for fans of Journey to the River Sea. With a gorgeous updated cover by Katie Hickey.'Packed with wit and adventure' – The TimesEver since she was found abandoned as a baby in 1896, Annika has lived in the servants' quarters at a grand house in Vienna. She loves the other servants as if they were family, and she adores the magnificent, glittering city. There is only one thing that Annika longs for: the day her real mother comes to find her.So when a beautiful aristocrat arrives to claim her, it is as if Annika has walked into her own dream. Whisked off to her true home – a remote estate far, far from Vienna – her new life begins. But the dark and crumbling castle echoes with secrets and lies, and as Annika unravels the truth she finds herself in terrible danger . . .

An Amazon adventure set in the wilderness of Brazil, Journey to the River Sea is filled with mystery and memorable characters.It is 1910 and Maia, tragically orphaned at thirteen, has been sent from England to start a new life with distant relatives in Manaus, hundreds of miles up the Amazon. She is accompanied by an eccentric and mysterious governess who has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. Both soon discover an exotic world bursting with new experiences in Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson's highly colourful, joyous adventure.This 15th anniversary edition includes a forward by Lauren St John, author of The White Giraffe.Winner of the Smarties Gold Medal.Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award.

With a beautiful cover illustration by Alex T. Smith, creator of the Claude series, The Great Ghost Rescue is a wonderfully spooky young fiction title from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson.'Nobody knew what had gone wrong with Humphrey. Perhaps it was his ectoplasm . . .'Humphrey the Horrible sounds scary, but he's actually a very friendly skeleton, with twinkling eye sockets and jangling finger bones. Humphrey dreams of being ghastly, like his brother – a screaming skull – or terrifying, like his bloodsucking vampire-bat cousins. But when Humphrey discovers an evil plot to exorcise his family, he finally realizes you don't have to be spine-chillingly fearsome to be a hero.

With a beautiful cover illustration by Alex T. Smith, creator of the Claude series, The Haunting of Hiram is a wonderfully spooky young fiction title from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson.'I will buy your castle,' declared Hiram C. Hopgood. 'But only if there are no ghosts!'Alex MacBuff can't afford to keep his beloved Castle Carra, and an American millionaire has made him an offer he can't refuse. The castle is shipped all the way to Texas, but its ghostly inhabitants, including Krok the Viking warrior and a hell-hound called Cyril, follow their home across the Atlantic. How can Alex stop them haunting Hiram and also save the millionaire's daughter from an evil ransom plot?

Under Platform 13 at King's Cross Station there is a secret door that leads to a magical island . . .It appears only once every nine years. And when it opens, four mysterious figures step into the streets of London. A wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young hag have come to find the prince of their kingdom, stolen as a baby nine years before.But the prince has become a horrible rich boy called Raymond Trottle, who doesn't understand magic and is determined not to be rescued.Shortlisted for the Smarties Prize, The Secret of Platform 13 is an exciting magical adventure from Eva Ibbotson, the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea.'This kind of fun will never fail to delight' Philip Pullman

With a beautiful cover illustration by Alex T. Smith, creator of the Claude series, Not Just A Witch is a wonderfully spooky young fiction title from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson.'I want you to change the next wicked person you see into a tiger,' demanded Lionel. 'A very large tiger.'Heckie is not just a witch – she's an animal witch, who wants to make the world a better place by transforming evil people into harmless animals, using her incredible Toe of Transformation and her awesome Knuckle of Power. But when slimy Lionel Knapsack charms Heckie, her magic begins to take a darker direction. Her friends, including a cheese wizard and a boy called Daniel, must come to the rescue . . .

Join in the wicked fun with Which Witch? A twisty and outrageously funny gothic adventure full of dangerous spells and magical mishaps. By Eva Ibbotson, with deliciously whimsical black-and-white illustrations by Becka MoorArriman has decided to marry. As top dark wizard, his wife must be the wickedest of witches – but which witch will she be? He holds a spell-casting competition to find out.Hopelessly in love at first sight, Belladonna is determined to win – but there’s one big problem: all her attempts at dark magic go hopelessly wrong. Snake-casting spell? Perfumed flowers. Vampire-summoning? An adorable bat roosting in her hair.Everything changes when she meets orphaned Terrance and his pet worm, Rover, who appears to be a powerful familiar. As long as he’s nearby, Belladonna’s magic grows dark and devious.But with scheming enchantress Madame Olympia as a determined rival for the wizard’s hand in marriage, can Belladonna win?'This kind of fun will never fail to delight' - Philip Pullman

Monster Mission by Eva Ibbotson is a fun fantasy adventure full of fantastical creatures and mythical monsters!'We must kidnap some children,' announced Aunt Etta. 'Young, strong ones. It will be dangerous, but it must be done.'Three children are stolen and taken to a bizarre island, which is home to some extraordinary creatures – including mermaids, selkies and the legendary kraken. The island is the base for a very mysterious mission. But the magical adventure is cut short when the island is suddenly under siege. Can the children save themselves and their new friends?'Funny, gripping, charming and completely irresistible' - Amanda Craig

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle is a fantastically spooky adventure from the author of Dial a Ghost, Eva Ibbotson.'We need proper ghosts,' said Ned, 'really scary ones with heads that come off and daggers in their chests!'When Madlyn and her younger brother Rollo arrive at crumbling Clawstone Castle, they can see that emergency action is needed before Clawstone falls down completely. With the help of a team of homeless, scary ghosts –including a one-eyed skeleton and Brenda the Bloodstained Bride – they hatch a spooky plan to get the money rolling in. But with a sinister scientist on the loose, money might not be enough to save the mysterious beasts of Clawstone Castle . . .

With a beautiful cover illustration by Alex T. Smith, creator of the Claude series, The Ogre of Oglefort is a wonderfully spooky young fiction title from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson.When a Hag, an orphan boy called Ivo, Ulf the troll and wizard Brian Brainsweller are sent to rescue a princess from an ogre, they briefly consider running away and hiding. Can they be any match for the gruesome, terrifying, ghastly, flesh-eating Ogre of Oglefort? But not all is as it first appears – the Ogre is depressed and the princess doesn't want to be rescued. The Norns, who rule their fates, decide to take things in hand and send a gang of the vilest, most petrifying ghouls to get the job done properly . . .

A classic from beloved author Eva Ibbotson - now withan updated cover from celebrated illustrator, Jamie Littler.How do you smuggle a family of yetis from Tibet toEngland?When Agatha Farlingham is kidnapped by a yeti on a mountain inTibet, she soon discovers that the hairy monster is clever and noble.His children are in danger from the modern world and he needsher help. She sends them on a top-secret journey to England and thesafety of her ancestral home.But first she must teach them some manners. . . A rollicking adventure from the extraordinary imagination ofone of Britain's most beloved storytellers.This early Iva Ibbottson novel, never submitted for publication,contains all the trademark qualities that madeEva's subsequent books so successful; comedy, loveable and eccentriccharacters, perfectly-crafted plotting, and inspiring themesof tolerance, kindness to animals, and the defeat of cruelty.  REVIEWS"Ibbotson is one of the greatest children's writers of ourtime" The Times"A classic" The Daily Mail"A hugely enjoyable and witty rollick" Mal Peet,Guardian

All Hal had ever wanted was a dog.But a dog would damage the carpets in Hal's house, and so hisparents refused to let him have one.Then they discover Easy Pets, a convenient dog-rentalagency.Terrier Fleck arrives on Hal's birthday, but when he discoversthat his dog must be returned, he runs away. An irresistible adventure from a truly great and much-loved children'sauthor that every dog-loving child will adore.Perfect for fans of 101 DALMATIANS.With lovely line drawings on each chapter head  Praise for One Dog and His Boy"The late, great Eva Ibbotson's last novel does not disappoint.This perfectly pitched book is a eulogy to dogs. Only someonewith a profound understanding and love for dogs could have writtenthis moving book about the importance of love and friendshipand the power of people and animals to provide it." BookTrust"Readers who have grown to love Ibbotson's bighearted heroesand larger-than-life adventure stories will relish this finalnovel, published after her death in 2010." Publisher'sWeekly"Eva Ibbotson's final book is in essence a familiar story- a lonely boy desperate for a pet and a dog desperate to be loved,but this wonderful poignant story is also a critique of consumerismand a call for family values" Love Reading 4 Kids

Award-winner Eva Ibbotson's hugely entertaining The Star of Kazan is a timeless classic for readers of any age. Perfect for fans of Journey to the River Sea. With a gorgeous updated cover by Katie Hickey.'Packed with wit and adventure' – The TimesEver since she was found abandoned as a baby in 1896, Annika has lived in the servants' quarters at a grand house in Vienna. She loves the other servants as if they were family, and she adores the magnificent, glittering city. There is only one thing that Annika longs for: the day her real mother comes to find her.So when a beautiful aristocrat arrives to claim her, it is as if Annika has walked into her own dream. Whisked off to her true home – a remote estate far, far from Vienna – her new life begins. But the dark and crumbling castle echoes with secrets and lies, and as Annika unravels the truth she finds herself in terrible danger . . .

'Blending history and tragedy with an irresistible wit and verve.' – The TimesThe Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson is an exciting story of friendship and determination during the Second World War, from the award-winning author of Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan. Illustrated with a gorgeous updated cover by Katie Hickey. Tally Hamilton is furious to hear she is being sent from London to a horrid, stuffy boarding school in the countryside. And all because of the stupid war. But Delderton Hall is a far more interesting place than Tally ever imagined, and an exciting school trip to the beautiful and luscious kingdom of Bergania whisks Tally into an unexpected adventure . . .Will she be able to save her new friend, Prince Karil, from terrible danger before it's too late?

'Her books are utterly delightful' – Daily Mail'Radiant and comforting' – The TLSAward-winner Eva Ibbotson's The Secret Countess, author of The Morning Gift, is a classic historical romance that stretches across countries, families and class divides.After revolution tears her country apart, young Russian countess Anna Grazinsky is forced to flee Saint Petersburg for rural England, where her now penniless family has no choice but to rely on the kindness of their only friend, Anna's old governess. Determined to help her family in any way possible, Anna arms herself with an out-of-date book on housekeeping and takes work as a servant at a crumbling mansion in the English countryside.1919 sees Rupert, the handsome young Earl of Westerholme, return from war and become instantly mesmerized by Anna. As powerful attraction clashes with tradition, Anna finds concealing her true identity increasingly impossible.

'Written with such a lightness of touch and extraordinary charm that they always change my mood to hopeful. Absolute balm.' – Marian Keyes, author of Rachel's HolidayThe Morning Gift is a modern classic of unexpected love, independence and belonging during World War II. By award-winner Eva Ibbotson, author of The Secret Countess and A Song for Summer.Spring 1938: as Hitler marches into Austria, Ruth Berger's family is forced to flee, but a devastating misunderstanding leaves her alone in Nazi-occupied Vienna. There is no hope of escape until a chance meeting with an old family friend, Quinton Somerville, offers her refuge through a marriage of convenience.On arrival in London, Ruth and Quin find that dissolving their marriage is not as simple as they had thought, nor is keeping it secret. As war approaches, how will Ruth start a new life if she is not able to break away from the past?'Her books are utterly delightful' – Daily Mail

A Company of Swans is a sweeping tale of romance, freedom and the beauty of dance, from bestselling award-winner Eva Ibbotson.'Her books are utterly delightful' – Daily MailIn the grey, scholarly world of Cambridge in 1912, Harriet Morton has lived her whole life under the strict rule of her widowed father and miserly aunt. When she is offered the opportunity to dance with the corps de ballet on a tour of the Amazon, she steals away on a boat bound for Manaus.On arrival, Harriet meets the captivating British aristocrat, Rom Verney. Swept up in the exhilarating life of Brazil and the glorious worlds of romance and ballet, how can Harriet keep her new-found freedom when the life she left behind is catching up with her?Escape into more classic romance with Eva Ibbotson's: The Morning Gift, The Secret Countess, A Song for Summer, Magic Flutes and Madensky Square.

Join in the wicked fun with Which Witch? A twisty and outrageously funny gothic adventure full of dangerous spells and magical mishaps. By Eva Ibbotson, with deliciously whimsical black-and-white illustrations by Becka MoorArriman has decided to marry. As top dark wizard, his wife must be the wickedest of witches – but which witch will she be? He holds a spell-casting competition to find out.Hopelessly in love at first sight, Belladonna is determined to win – but there’s one big problem: all her attempts at dark magic go hopelessly wrong. Snake-casting spell? Perfumed flowers. Vampire-summoning? An adorable bat roosting in her hair.Everything changes when she meets orphaned Terrance and his pet worm, Rover, who appears to be a powerful familiar. As long as he’s nearby, Belladonna’s magic grows dark and devious.But with scheming enchantress Madame Olympia as a determined rival for the wizard’s hand in marriage, can Belladonna win?'This kind of fun will never fail to delight' - Philip Pullman

A secret island sanctuary for endangered magical creatures is the backdrop for Eva Ibbotson's quirky middle-grade adventure with a timely message of conservation at its heart - perfect for fans of Impossible Creatures and Roald Dahl . . .Three elderly, eccentric sisters – Aunts Etta, Coral, and Myrtle – run a secret island sanctuary for injured magical creatures, including mermaids, the strange and enormous boobrie bird, selkies, and the helpless baby of the legendary kraken.Realizing they are too old to maintain the mission, the Aunts travel to London and controversially 'kidnap' three children – the resourceful Minette, the well-mannered Fabio, and the spoiled Lambert – to train as their successors.While Minette and Fabio quickly embrace their duties caring for the creatures, Lambert sabotages the operation by contacting his ruthless, money-hungry father, Mr. Sprott, who arrives intending to turn the unique menagerie into a theme park. It is up to the children, the aunts and the 'monsters' to team up and save the island from the real monster . . .'Wildly original and wholly satisfying' - The Guardian

A whip-smart observation of the passions and tragedies behind daily life, Eva Ibbotson's Madensky Square is a classic snapshot of Viennese life before WWI.Susanna Weber's dress shop stands in the picturesque Madensky Square, a quiet little world of its own, nestled in the heart of glittering pre-war Vienna.As the winter of 1910 unfurls into spring, Susanna starts a journal about life in the Square, about the buildings and their colourful inhabitants. There's Frau Schumacher, with six daughters and a baby on the way, Professor Starsky and his menagerie of sickly reptiles, an aging bookseller, a teenage Anarchist, and little Sigi – an orphaned child prodigy forced to play the piano all day, every day.And then there's her dear friend Alice, the only person who has noticed the heartbreak that hides beneath Susanna's brisk kindness and brilliant talent . . .Discover more of Eva Ibbotson's sweeping historical romances in Magic Flutes, The Morning Gift, The Secret Countess, A Song for Summer and A Company of Swans.

'Discovering Eva Ibbotson’s books is one of the nicest things that’s ever happened to me. The most beautiful, delicious, wry read' – Marian KeyesA collection of eighteen romantic historical short stories from the award-winning and much-loved Eva Ibbotson. With atmospheric settings ranging from Vienna to Northumberland, A Glove Shop in Vienna explores the great passions and astute observations of everyday life.Join Great-Uncle Max, torn between his grand and secret love for Susie, the enchanting glove shop assistant, and the devotion of his opera-singing wife.Meet Miss Bennett, drama mistress at the fading Markham Street Primary School, whose search for a baby Jesus for the nativity play yields unexpected and miraculous results.Agonize with Kira, a dancer in Russia's Imperial Ballet school, thrown out onto the streets of St. Petersburg, and found by Edwin, a lonely dreamer.'Eva Ibbotson is such a good writer that her characters break the bonds of the romantic novel' – Washington Post