New Empire of Malplaquet, The - Andrew Dalton

The final part of Andrew Dalton's charming Malplaquet trilogy is again set in the landscape gardens at Stowe and concludes the fascinating adventures of the tiny Lilliputians whom we first met in The Temples of Malplaquet. That first book introduced us to the young teenager Jamie Thompson, his elderly friend Granny, and a whole host of tiny people who have been secretly living and hiding in the mysterious gardens for centuries especially the clever but eccentric Nigriff, and the bumbling but good-natured General Thorclan. The little characters have enemies of course, who pursued them relentlessly in the second book, The Lost People of Malplaquet, and as the dangers increase in this final part it seems likely that the Lilliputians will never achieve their New Empire. But they will never give up and there are plenty of surprises along the way for everyone. A quintessentially English story, inspired by Johnathan Swifts Gulliver's Travels and T.H. White's Mistress Masham's Repose, these books are written primarily for children aged 8 to 14, but contain plenty for older readers to enjoy as well. The wonderful and gripping world of Malplaquet is brought to life as delightfully as ever by Jonny Boatfield's illustrations.