Reading

A man is killed in Richard Hannay's home. Before his death he tells Hannay a dangerous secret. Now Hannay's life is in danger. Who are his enemies and what are they trying to do? And how will he solve the mystery of ‘the thirty-nine steps'?

This wonderful story of fairies, dreams and lovers is as popular today as it was in Shakespeare's time. In a wood outside Athens, four young people are following their dreams, while fairies play strange games with them. Their world seems unreal – but is it really very different from our own?

Will Freeman wants an easy life with no responsibilities. But then he meets Marcus – an unusual twelve year old boy with serious problems. About a Boy is a modern classic – a very funny story about a very serious subject: love. It's also a popular movie starring Hugh Grant.

A young woman comes to a big house to teach two young children. It's her first job and she wants to do it well. But she begins to see strange things – the ghosts of dead people. Do the ghosts want the children?

‘We'll give a free dinner to the person who tells the best story. Now, put up your hands if you agree.' The pilgrims all held up their hands. A group of pilgrims are travelling together for five days from London to Canterbury. On the way, each pilgrim has to tell a story to keep the others amused. Some stories are happy, and some are sad. But they all have a message, and we can learn from them.

Shakespeare's plays are famous all over the world – in the theatre, in film and in the classroom. What do we know about the man? What kind of life did he have? Who were his friends? Why can we still laugh and suffer with his characters 400 years after his death?

Every year, millions of tourists visit New York—the most exciting city in the world. Read about its history, its sights and its people. What makes New York “the city that never sleeps?”

Doctor Faustus is a clever man who is greedy for knowledge and power. After he signs an agreement with the Devil, in his own blood, his new skills are admired around the world. But there are two sides to an agreement with the Devil. There is a price to pay...

‘Sons of Scotland! You have come here to fight as free men. If you fight, perhaps you'll die. If you run, you may live for a time. But at what cost?' Braveheart is the story of William Wallace, who gave hope to Scottish people in their fight to be free.

These are the stories of some of Shakespeare's most famous plays. We travel to Venice, Greece, Denmark and Rome, and meet many different people. There is a greedy money-lender, a fairy king and queen, some Roman politicians and a young prince who meets the ghost of his murdered father.

Frankenstein is probably the most famous horror story in the world. Victor Frankenstein is a young scientist who creates a monster from parts of dead bodies. At first the monster looks for love and wants to be kind. But soon, he learns to hate people and becomes evil. Frankenstein has learnt how to create life. But will this life destroy him?

Oliver's mother dies when he is born and he is brought up in a workhouse. His first years are cold and lonely – and then he runs away to London. But he falls into the hands of Fagin and the terrifying Bill Sykes. They try to turn Oliver into a criminal. Will he escape to find a better life?

Can Phileas Fogg go round the world in eighty days? He doesn't know that somebody wants to stop him. Then Fogg will lose his bet – twenty thousand pounds!

A famous painting is going to the Grierson Gallery in LA and they want a top man to come to the United States. He can talk about the artist. The National Gallery in London send Mr Bean. But something is very wrong with Mr Bean! He's very, very strange. And dangerous! After he arrives, accidents start to happen.

Maximus is a general in the Roman army. After his last battle he wants to return to his family. But the new Emperor Commodus hates Maximus, and kills his family. Soon Maximus is a prisoner, then a slave, and finally a gladiator. When Emperor Commodus joins Maximus in the arena they fight for their lives.

Count Dracula is a vampire. He drinks people's blood. He lives in a lonely castle in the mountains of Transylvania. But then he comes to England and strange things start happening. People change. People become ill. Professor Van Helsing knows about vampires, but can he stop Count Dracula?

All kinds of people, from shopkeepers to kings, want the help of Sherlock Holmes in these six stories about the adventures of the famous detective. Who put a diamond in a chicken? Why is there a club for men with red hair? How did the man at the lake die? Can Sherlock Holmes solve the mysteries?

Huck and Jim travel down the Mississippi from St. Petersburg to Cairo. Jim is a runaway slave so they have to be careful. They have a lot of adventures on the river. They even meet a king! But is he real? Huck soon finds out the truth.

Jack Sparrow, captain of the Black Pearl, is back in a new adventure. This time he, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swann, and Commodore Norrington are all looking for a chest that belongs to the terrible Captain Davy Jones. But Davy Jones has other plans for Jack Sparrow...