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Brian Jacques
Brian Jacques was - in his own words -“a rogue and a
rascal at school”. He left at 15, going to sea in the hope of
finding some of the wonderful places he had read about in books.
But the reality was never as good as the story and Brian is much
happier now that he can explore places through words.
After working as a sailor, Brian returned to Liverpool
where he did lots of different jobs, like working on the docks,
before he got the chance to have his own radio show called
Jakestown.
His real name is James, but as his father and his
brother were also called James it seemed easier if he was known as
Brian (a bit of a weird family, if you ask me). Brian's early
childhood was set against the background of the bombing of
Liverpool, and reading was an escape from the grim realities of his
life. His father recommended books to Brian calling them 'Good
Yarns' and Brian quickly got hooked. His favourite books are The
Odyssey, and The Illiad, by Homer.
Brain was inspired to write his famous Redwall series
by books such as these, and by listening to a lot of Latin when he
was an altar boy in the local church.
Brian has written 14 books in the Redwall series,
which have won prizes all over the world.
Castaways of the Flying Dutchman
Based on the legend of the ghostly ship, The Flying Dutchman, Brain Jacques tells a violent and salty sea-story of how the mute boy, Neb, and his friend the stray dog Denmark, survive on a wild and unending voyage. A thrilling mixture of fantasy and suspense. (12+)
Published in Viking
Redwall
All is quite and peaceful in Redwall Abbey and the creatures relax in the warm, summer sunshine. But outside the walls danger threatens as the evil one-eyed rat, Cluny the Scourge, prepares his troops for a deadly battle. He wants nothing less than full possession of Redwall. Will Redwall survive the attack? (9+)
Published by Red Fox
Lord Brocktree
High in the mountains, Salamandastron is the ancestral home of the badger lords who are prepared to fight to the death to save it from the evil wildcat, Ungatt Trunn. Just when things look hopeless, Lord Brocktree is drawn to the fortress and into a fight that will change the history of Salamandastron forever. (9+)
Published by Red Fox
Martin the Warrior
Badrang the stoat is Chieftain of a horde of animals: weasels, ferrets, foxes and rats. And Badrang has a dream that one day he'll have supreme domination and rule over an Empire. Will anyone stop Badrang? Only Martin, a young mouse who is determined to fight for freedom, stands up to him. Another exciting story of courage and bravery. (9+)
Published by Red Fox
The Legend of Lune
Martin the mouse warrior hardly knew his father, but he knows of his great reputation. To find out more, Martin leaves Redwall and returns home to the northland shore where he learns of his father's glorious success against the evil pirate stoat, Vilu Dasker. (9+)
Published by Red Fox
The Taggerung
Sawney Rath, ferret chief of the Juska tribe, has a plan. He will capture the baby otter who is destined to become the Taggerung - the mighty warrior born to lead Redwall. Sawney is determined to harness Tagg's powers to his own evil cause. But though Sawney Rath trains the young otter to be a ruthless killer, good triumphs over evil and the future of Redwall is secured. (9+)
Published by Hutchinson Children's Books
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[ Windows Media Clip 1- Redwall ]
[ Windows Media Clip 2- My favourite book ]
[ Windows Media Clip 3- What the teacher told Brian ]
[ Windows Media Clip 4- I've done many things in my life ]
