Dodie Smith

La joven Cassandra Mortmain ve pasar los días plácidamente en el castillo medio en ruinas en el que vive junto a su familia, aislados en medio de la naturaleza. Su excéntrico padre es un escritor que no consigue superar el bloqueo creativo; su bohemia madrastra no deja de rememorar los tiempos en los que fue la musa de muchos artistas; su hermosa hermana, Rose, llena las horas de aburrimiento soñando con casarse con un hombre atractivo y rico que los saque a todos de la miseria, y su hermano pequeño, Thomas, un chico tan inteligente como inocente. Sin embargo, la llegada de los Cotton, la familia estadounidense que ha heredado el castillo, lo cambiara todo para siempre.Cuando en 1948 Dodie Smith publico su primera novela, Capturo el castillo, se convirtio primero en un exito sin precedentes, y despues en un clasico atemporal de la literatura inglesa. Entrañable, ingeniosa, divertida y conmovedora, esta inolvidable historia de formacion ha emocionado a generaciones de lectores.Este libro tiene una de las narradoras mas carismaticas que he conocido. J. K. Rowling

I write this sitting in the kitchen sink This is the diary of Cassandra Mortmain which tells of her extraordinary family and their crumbling castle home

From Dodie Smith, the author of I Capture the Castle and The Hundred and One Dalmatians comes a classic tale of complicated sibling relationships, friendship and forbidden love. Set in 1970s England, this is a delightful, funny novel with deftly drawn characters and true heart. Suspecting her husband, George, of dalliances in the city, May decides it is high time the family moved to the country. Determined to create the perfect home there, she finds an idyllic country house set in a lilac grove and sets about furnishing it properly and cooking enormous meals. She even manages to convince her less well-off sister, June, to move into a cosy cottage on the grounds with her husband Robert. This new set-up is very much a family affair as June's husband Robert just happens to be George's brother: the two sisters are married to two brothers. At first both families seem to be settling in well, sharing delicious meals and having jolly times together. Their grown-up children, Hugh and Corinna, visit from London and there even seems to be a hint of romance in the air for them, while the surviving grandparents from both sides of the family move into the big house and forge new friendships. But the arrival of a cantankerous great aunt will reveal the cracks in the family's tangled relationships and will even threaten to unveil the greatest secret of all - while May thought moving George to the country would put a stop to his affairs, he has begun to fall in love with his sister-in-law, June. The death of a beloved character will, however, turn the tables again and lead to the ultimate, happy, denouement.

'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink' is the first line of this timeless, witty and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her Bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writer's block. However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time.

Instalada en un destartalado castillo rodeado de abundante naturaleza, los días transcurren sin demasiadas sorpresas en la vida de Cassandra Mortmain. A sus diecisiete años, su familia no es precisamente una fuente de diversion: su padre es escritor, pero no escribe; su madrastra, bohemia y musa de artistas, sueña con tiempos pasados; su bella hermana Rose muestra una preocupante tendencia a la melancolia; y a su hermano Thomas no le ven el pelo. Sin embargo, un buen dia, la tranquila existencia de Cassandra se ve alterada con la llegada de los Cotton, una familia norteamericana que ha heredado el ruinoso edificio. Esta desconcertante aparicion trae consigo un generoso aire de energia y vitalidad que cambiara radicalmente el destino de los Mortmain. Y en especial el de las dos hermanas, que tendran la ocasion de descubrir la amistad, el amor y, sobre todo, el largo y bonito, aunque a veces doloroso, camino hacia la madurez. La edicion en castellano de El castillo soñado supone la publicacion de un autentico clasico de la literatura anglosajona. Leida por millones de personas de varias generaciones, esta obra que ha inspirado a muchos autores famosos, desde Amistead Maupin hasta J. K. Rowling permitira a jovenes y adultos conocer a una gran narradora, una escritora tocada por el talento y la sensibilidad. Con una prosa bella y sincera, repleta de colores y resonancias tanto cinematograficas como literarias, Dodie Smith ha reunido en Cassandra un personaje de mil matices, que con su ingenuidad y sabiduria, su picardia y bondad, cautivara a los lectores de todas las edades.

Dodie Smith Seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal during six turbulent months of 1934, filling three notebooks with sharply funny, yet poignant entries about her home, a ruined Suffolk castle, and her eccentric, penniless family. By the time the last diary is finished, great changes have occurred within the Mortmain household, and Cassandra is herself, deeply and hopelessly, in love.

Instalada en un destartalado castillo rodeado de abundante naturaleza, los días transcurren sin sorpresas en la vida de Cassandra Mortmain. A sus diecisiete años, su familia no es precisamente una fuente de diversion: su padre es escritor, pero no escribe; su madrastra, bohemia y musas de artistas, sueña con tiempos pasados; su hermana Rosa muestra uan preocupante tendencia a la melancolia; y a su hermano Thomas no le ven el pelo.

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Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online.Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content.The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers story comprehension and develop vocabulary.

A beautiful hardback edition of one of the funny, heartbreaking, iconic coming-of-age novel. 'I write this sitting in the kitchen sink' is the first line of this timeless, witty and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere.Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her fading glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writer's block. However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time. 'I know of few novels that inspire as much fierce lifelong affection in their readers' Joanna Trollope'This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met' J.

Le journal, émouvant et drôle, dune jeune fille pleine desprit et de talent. Cassandra! Un prénom romanesque, à limage du château perdu au fin fond de lAngleterre où vit la jeune fille et toute sa f

From the author of I Capture the Castle and The Hundred and One Dalmatians, an unusual adventure in which humour and more than a touch of strangeness are inextricably blended. When Jane Minton arrives at Dome House as a secretary-housekeeper, she finds herself sharing the comfortable country home of four attractive young people. Their charming widower father, Rupert Carrington is too occupied with his London business to see very much of them. Richard, the eldest, is a composer; Clare, whose true talents (if they can be called that) have not yet disclosed themselves, dreams of courtly romance; Drew is collecting material for a novel; and Merry, still at school, has her heart set on a stage career. Jane is warmly welcomed into this happy household and feels her luck is too good to be true. However, the private world of Dome House is fated to break up as Rupert flees England under threat of prosecution for fraud. He asks Jane to break the news to the children, who must now fend for themselves, and to do what she can to help them. However, the Carringtons are extremely unusual young people and the story of the eclectic choices they make next is an absorbing and unpredictable one.

A determined young Lancashire girl arrives in London intent on a stage career - this tale from the author of I Capture the Castle is told with the candour and authenticity that derives from Dodie Smiths own experience of the theatre world. Mouse never did fully suit her nickname. Tiny she may have been, but timid never. After less than twenty-four hours in London she had bluffed her way into an audition at a famous theatre, infuriated its forceful young stage director, and amused its kind if quite amoral actor-manager. She had finally landed not a part but a toehold as a junior secretary. During her involvement in the engrossing affairs of the Crossway Theatre she met her friends Molly, a baby-faced six-footer; and elegant, ambitious Lilian, who was fated to clash disastrously with Mouse. Later, there was also Zelle, rich, generous, enigmatic, and responsible for an outing to Suffolk village pageant which proved a turning point for them all.Life was always surprising the fearless Mouse: when she unexpectedly got to a chance to act she made an unforgettable impression, though not the one she had intended. However, nothing prepared her for the assault of first love, highly unsuitable, but welcomed by her in a way which was to have far-reaching consequences. Only when she looks back after a reunion luncheon does she realise the full effects of that shared summer on her friends and herself. A startlingly frank yet nostalgic read, this is a charming novel about coming of age and the healing effects of time.

To mark the publication of Stop What Youre Doing and Read This!, a collection of essays celebrating reading, Vintage Classics are releasing 12 limited edition themed ebook bundles, to tempt readers to discover and rediscover great books. I CAPTURE THE CASTLEI write this sitting in the kitchen sink is the first line of this timeless, witty and enchanting novel about growing up. Cassandra Mortmain lives with her bohemian and impoverished family in a crumbling castle in the middle of nowhere. Her journal records her life with her beautiful, bored sister, Rose, her fadingly glamorous stepmother, Topaz, her little brother Thomas and her eccentric novelist father who suffers from a financially crippling writers block. However, all their lives are turned upside down when the American heirs to the castle arrive and Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the first time...THE SECRET GARDENMary Lennox is an orphan who is sent to live with her uncle at gloomy Misselthwaite Manor. Neglected and lonely, she begins to explore her new home and learns of a secret garden that her uncle has forbidden anyone to enter. A friendly robin shows Mary the key to the garden and she discovers a world she could never have imagined... The Secret Garden has enchanted generations of children and adults alike.

During a summer festival in an English spa town Miles Quentin, a distinguished actor, and his devoted wife become friendly with the local MP Geoffrey Thornton, and his young daughters Robin and Kit. All of these attractive, intelligent and busy people seem untroubled at first. But the surface of their lives conceals problems which start to come to light after the Quentins return to their London theatre world and the Thorntons to their Westminster home. This leads to an unconventional love story in which loyalty may prove more important than love. It Ends with Revelations deals with complex issues of love and commitment, while retaining elements of the light hearted comedy of I Capture The Castle and the nostalgic charm of The Town in Full Bloom. As ever, the vivacity of Dodie Smiths writing and the warmth of her characters will keep readers guessing until the last page.

A hundred and one dalmatians and more! This bumper Modern Classic edition includes the original Hundred and One Dalmatians and Dodie Smiths sequel, Starlight Barking. Cruella de Vil is enough to frighten the spots off a Dalmatian puppy. So when she steals a whole family of them, the puppies parents, Pongo and Missus, lose no time in mounting a daring rescue mission. Will they be in time to thwart Cruellas evil scheme, or have they bitten off more than they can chew? Perfect for fans of the classic Disney film.