John Diamond (Young Spitfire) [Paperback]

Leon Garfield (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2004 | Series: Young Spitfire

If ever I learned anything during that night, it was that, if you should hear the noise of running feet, you should not be angry, but think that somebody down below might be gasping and groaning and struggling to save his life. If you should see a boy raise his fists as if to bang on your door and then stumble away, it is not because he's a dirty little ruffian, but because he's just caught sight of somebody coming round a corner with a terrible hook. 'Really,' said Leon Garfield, 'what I try to write is that old-fashioned thing the family novel, accessible to the twelve-year-old and readable by his elders.' This classic tale of a boy who sets out to right the wrongs committed by his swindler father demonstrates how extraordinarily successful Leon Garfield was as a story-teller. His work transcends all generations. First published in 1980, John Diamond won the Whitbread Award that year, as the best children's story book, and also the prestigious Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book Award. The Horn Book wrote: Narrated with the verve and pace of a picaresque novel, [John Diamond] combines a cast of remarkable eccentrics with superb sensory descriptions...A series of heart-stopping pursuits through the twisting London streets, narrow escapes, encounters with the denizens of Whitefriars, Foxes Court, and Hanging Court Alley move the story at a precipitous rate toward a thoroughly satisfying and surprising resolution. The plot is as convoluted as William's search - packed with unexpected turns, vain hopes of treasure, false clues, and masked identities...Richly imagined and audacious in its balance of humour and suspense, the book is as absorbing as it is compelling.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Narrated with the verve and pace of a picaresque novel, [John Diamond] combines a cast of remarkable eccentrics with superb sensory descriptions . . . Richly imagined and audacious in its balance of humor and suspense, the book is as absorbing as it is compelling." -The Horn Book

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Leon Garfield (1912-1996) was the award-winning author of over fifty books for adults and children. His awards included the Boy's Club of America Junior Book Award, the Guardian Award for Children's Fiction, The Arts Council Prize, the Whitbread and the Carnegie Medal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: Elliott & Thompson (September 21, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1904027326
• ISBN-13: 978-1904027324
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,715,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Diamond is 100% carrot, March 21, 2000

By 

Thomas Bacon (Hertford, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Diamond (Hardcover)

This is a exciting tail of a young boy named Willium hows father had told him a deep and dark secrate on his death bed. Willium runs away from home to set his fathers wrongs write. Once again a griping tail by Leon Garfeild. You will not be abel to put it down.