The Thief Lord

Product Description
Two orphaned children are on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of the city. Befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord, they shelter in an old, disused cinema. On their trail is a bungling detective, obsessed with disguises and the health of his pet tortoises. But a greater threat to the boys’ new-found freedom is something from a forgotten past – a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself.
Striking, atmospheric new cover look for this magical thriller set among the crumbling canals of Venice, told in the best storytelling tradition by the wonderful Cornelia Funke.
More than one million copies sold worldwide.
Reviews:
‘A completely delicious read …’ OBSERVER
‘My enjoyment of ‘Thief Lord’ grew and grew as I read it…and I love the offbeat ending.’ DIANA WYNNE JONES
‘The book reminded me – in the way it made me feel – of ‘Emil and the Detectives’… a book I deeply loved. I suppose I’m decoding a kind of warm intelligence which isn’t all that common.’ EVA IBBOTSON
‘[A] radiant novel…Today’s young readers will probably love this book as they love the Harry Potter series, for its zany plot and well-defined characters … Splendid.’ NEW YORK TIMES
‘[An] exquisitely told tale of adventure and intrigue. Display[s] the kind of zest that makes you inhale a book in as few sittings as possible.’ USA TODAY
‘A European best-seller … Funke’s deft exploration of a timeless theme … the longing of kids to grow up and of grown-ups to relive their youth … should engage both young and old.’ PEOPLE
‘The Venetian setting is ripe for mystery, and the city’s alleys and canals ratchet up the suspense in the chase scenes.’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Winner of the Zurich Children’s Book Award 2000 and The Children’s Book Award 2001 by the Vienna House of Literature.