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The darkly witty story of Constance Hardpenny, a rag doll of character and fortitude.
About the author
Ben Manley is a writer and designer. His writing is full of humour and heart with a touch of the gothic. Ben graduated from Cambridge with a degree in English. Since then, he has written and performed at the Battersea Arts Centre, Riverside Studios and the Edinburgh Festival. His debut picture book, The Misadventures of Frederick illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark, was published to much critical acclaim. Ben lives in Norwich with his wife and two children.Emma Chichester Clark is one of Britain’s best loved children’s authors and illustrators. With degrees from both Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art, she is the author of the immensely popular Blue Kangaroo and Plumdog series and many other books, and has illustrated books by Roald Dahl, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Peter Dickinson, Michael Morpurgo and Quentin Blake. Emma lives in West London with her husband and much-celebrated dog, Plum.
Summary
Constance in Peril is a brilliantly funny story from the creators of the critically acclaimed The Misadventures of Frederick, a Sunday Times Children's Book of the Year. Told with all Ben Manley's characteristic wit and genius for comic timing, with beautiful, atmospheric illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark adding to the fun.
Edward’s favourite toy was a soft, old, cloth doll. Her name was Constance Hardpenny and she had led a tragic life.
Having been rescued from a rubbish bin by a boy called Edward, Constance suffers a series of potentially catastrophic incidents. More suited to elegant tea parties in a bygone age, she nevertheless remains stoic throughout. From being forgotten and left out in the rain or trapped up a tree, even being caught between the jaws of the neighbour's dog, Constance is constantly finding herself in mortal danger. Although she’s luckily rescued each time by the watchful Grace, Edward’s loving older sister, it seems disaster is never far behind.
Is Constance doomed to suffer a life of never-ending peril? Probably.
Foreword
The darkly witty story of Constance Hardpenny, a rag doll of character and fortitude.
Additional text
Manley’s gothic, deadpan text marries delightfully with Chichester Clark’s autumn-mellow images.
