Book meme - day 6

[dimity_blue]

meathiel, would you like to take up the challenge?

For 10 days, post the cover of a book you like and challenge someone else to join in.

Today's book is The December Rose by Leon Garfield.




Barnacle is a Victorian chimney sweep's lad, a poor, unfortunate orphan who spends his days crawling through chimneys and eavesdropping on any conversations he can overhear. He has no idea of the trouble it'll lead him into, especially when a gold locket, spies, and murder are involved.

I saw the TV series first but the book is much better. Go, read it. I really don't think you'll regret it.

Comments

[swordznsorcery]

Leon Garfield covers are usually a bit more child-friendly than that!

Good book, as Garfield's so often are (my favourite of his is "Jack Holborn", though I do actually prefer the TV adaptation of that one). Such rollicking good adventures, with a nice sprinkling of historical authenticity (albeit the literary kind). Grimy and gritty, and smeling of the backstreets!

[dimity_blue]

I forgot he wrote Jack Holborn too!

Oddly enough, Jack Holborn's TV adaptation is available on DVD but the book isn't available on Kindle while December Rose is available as an ebook but the TV adaptation isn't available at all.

[swordznsorcery]

Annoying, isn't it! Different production companies of course. Makes all the difference, sadly. I do wish the BBC would dust off more of their back catalogue! I don't suppose they can afford it though. :(

[dimity_blue]

*looks at the cost of her TV licence* They can't afford it? Maybe stop paying stupid amounts for sports.

[swordznsorcery]

Sport is popular. They have to be competitive. (Pun not intended!) And they don't get all that money. It's shared between a number of companies, including Channel 4 and a handful of independent radio stations.

Unfortunately, the BBC now has to show a profit. It didn't used to - it was paid for by us, and run for us. Maggie's lot changed that though. Now it has to show a profit. So DVDs that can't pay for themselves are unlikely to happen. You can have a few money-losing ventures paid for by the big hits, but it worries the accountants. Boris's lot would axe the Beeb in a heartbeat, so they have to play it careful.

(But yeah, I'd junk the sports too. More interesting drama!)