Tales From the Great Library

TALES FROM THE GREAT LIBRARY
The Stories the Fire Could Not Destroy
By Philippa Herzog

Some stories are too wonderful to be lost.

Long ago, the Great Library of Alexandria held the accumulated dreams, discoveries and imaginings of an ancient world. Much was lost to time, neglect and fire. But what if a few fragments of its forgotten stories had survived?

What if those fragments were enough to bring the stories back to life?

Enter a world where queens encounter impossible wonders, sailors journey beyond the horizon, mountains ask unexpected questions, and a shepherd discovers that the stars may have been speaking to him all along.

Meet a king who borrows a wheelbarrow, a bird that carries no message, an ancient tree that remembers its beginnings, and a village whose river commits the unforgivable offence of flowing in the wrong direction.

And discover what happens when every mirror remembers a different face.

Thirteen beautifully illustrated tales of wonder, wisdom, humour and the extraordinary mysteries hidden within ordinary life.

Inspired by the timeless traditions of myth, folklore and storytelling, Tales from the Great Library invites readers of all ages to wander through strange and familiar worlds, encounter unforgettable characters, and discover meanings that may change each time the stories are read.

These are tales to read aloud, to savour quietly, to revisit years later-and perhaps to carry with you long after the final page.

For sometimes the greatest discoveries are not found at the end of the world.

They are waiting in the things we have forgotten how to see.

The doors of the Great Library are open. Come inside.