The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out Kalliovski's darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror. THE RED NECKLACE is not only a tremendous adventure story but a vibrant and passionate picture of Paris in turmoil and of a large cast of memorable characters.
Reviews
'a gripping read, complete with adventure, a little magic, vivid characters and a turbulent background.' -- Jennifer Taylor THE BOOKSELLER
'It's a story that has everything - murder, mystery, passion and even magic' -- Amanda Craig THE TIMES
'A splendid story' THE INDEPENDENT
'The novel is rich in characters...and, although it uses modern dialogue, it vividly evokes time and place... enthrallingly told, it offers action, surprises and protagonists to care about' THE SUNDAY TIMES
'Greed, magic and intrigue fuel this swift-moving novel' THE GUARDIAN
'Brilliantly rich and complex' THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
'[Sally Gardner] has a truly original voice... a thrilling read' THE SPECTATOR
' run out and buy Sally Gardner's The Red Necklace. If there's a better way to make kids realize how thrilling history can be (in this case, the French Revolution), it's not one I know about.' -- Meg Rosoff
Author Biography
Sally Gardner trained at art college and went on to work in the theatre, winning awards for her costume designs for some notable productions. After her twin daughters and her son were born she started to illustrate children's books, and then turned to writing. She lives in North London.
