Terry Deary's Historical Tales
56 total works
From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps
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Ideal for readers aged 7+
The dashing Earl of Essex is plotting a rebellion to overthrow the aged Elizabeth I and is using the Globe Theatre in his plot. When Queen Elizabeth I learns of the plan, Shakespeare’s theatre company end up in the most putrid prison in the land. Can James, a young actor, help the bard to earn the Queen’s forgiveness and the company’s freedom?
Terry Deary’s Tudor Tales explore the infamous world of the Tudors through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Tudor settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
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‘Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical’ - Books For Keeps
Photographer Alfred Adams was born 1 June 1896 and became an observer in WW1, taking pictures over enemy lines. He was shot down by the famous 'Red Baron' Manfred von Richthofen over France along with his pilot Donald Stewart on 5 April 1917. They landed across enemy lines and both survived as prisoners of war. The tale tells how Alfred ended up spending his 21st birthday in a German prisoner of war camp, where he was visited by the Red Baron himself. The master historical storyteller gives readers aged 7+ a fascinating look at the First World War in the air, from both sides.
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Tutankhamen has been buried in his rocky tomb. But there is a plot to rob the grave of its vast wealth as soon as possible after the funeral. A motley gang of villains have all the skills they need to undertake the crime - the key member of the team is young Paneb, who is small and lithe and the only one who can slip through the tunnel and into the funeral chamber. It's a risky venture, because, if he's caught, the punishment is slow torture and death.
Terry Deary's Egyptian Tales explore the world of Ancient Egypt through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Egyptian settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
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This is a tale of Neria, who works in the House of Death helping her father to make mummies. Neria enjoys her work, but when the pharaoh dies, everyone is so busy that Neria is given the responsibility of mummifying the pharaoh's cat, to accompany him to the afterlife. The trouble is, Neria doesn't want to kill and gut the cat! Can she find a way to save it - without being caught and punished?
Terry Deary's Egyptian Tales explore the world of Ancient Egypt through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Egyptian settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
Mesopotamia, 2500 years ago
Everyone in the tribe must work; all the men go hunting for bulls and mountain lions - apart from Sin-leqi, that is. Sin-leqi stays home and reads tablets in the great temples. The tablets tell tales of the legendary Gilgamesh, tales that are so fantastical that lazy Sin-leqi doesn't have to work, as long as he keeps telling them. But when the story comes to end, Sin-leqi is in trouble...
A brand new and exciting tale, based on real historical and archaeological evidence, this story is full of Terry Deary's imaginative style and dry wit.
Book band: Grey
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Nevis Island, Caribbean, 1680
Red-legs Greaves has been a slave, a pirate, and a rich sugar planter. Now he's a prisoner. And next morning, he'll be dead - hanged by the neck for piracy! His only friend is a slave girl called Lou. Can Lou do anything to save Red-legs? It would take a miracle...
A fantastic story blending pirate legend with historical fact and Terry Deary's vividly imagined characters.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
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Darius has been orphaned by the plague in Athens. To escape the sickness he runs off to join his Uncle Alcmaeon, who is a general with the Spartan army. But to the arrogant and ruthless Spartans, he is as worthless as a mouse. Then his uncle falls sick. Can Darius can find a cure? And will he ever feel at home in Sparta?
Terry Deary's Greek Tales explore the world of Ancient Greece through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Greek settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
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The boys at school are excited. The Olympic games are coming to the city. They may be too young to compete, but their teacher suggests the school should have its own games. Of course, girls have no part at all in these festivities but Elena discovers her twin brother, Cypselis, has made a bet with Big Bacchiad (the school bully). If Cypselis wins he will get a new goat. If he loses then Elena will become Bacchiad's slave. Elena's freedom is at stake - she needs all her cunning to make sure her brother wins. But will he?
Terry Deary's Greek Tales explore the world of Ancient Greece through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Greek settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
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Plymouth, 1577
Tom is a cabin boy for Captain Francis Drake, on his mission to steal South American gold from the Spanish fleet. Can Tom survive the trip round the world, through waves three times the height of their tiny ship, help Drake defeat the Spanish galleons - and come back rich?
A fantastic story blending pirate legend with historical fact and Terry Deary's vividly imagined characters.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
9500 years ago, as the Ice Age is ending...
Jay's grandfather is old, maybe twice as many summers as he has fingers and toes, but he is wise too. Jay loves to sit in their house by the river and listen to his stories of the Great Spirit and the Earth Mother. But outside, danger is at their door; food is getting scarcer, tribes are at war, and all the time the river water is rising...
A brand new and exciting tale, based on real historical and archaeological evidence, this story is full of Terry Deary's imaginative style and dry wit.
Book band: Grey
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The great inventor Archimedes has just one problem. His clumsy servant, young Lydia, is the bane of his life. But when the Romans besiege Syracuse, and the Greeks turn to Archimedes for help, it is young Lydia who always seems to come up with the answers. Of course Archimedes is a lion in the eyes of the folk of Syracuse. He takes all the credit, but that's life for a Greek girl slave.
Terry Deary's Greek Tales explore the world of Ancient Greece through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Greek settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
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Ideal for readers aged 7+
Stories of the Second World War on the Home Front from the bestselling Terry Deary, author of the hugely successful Horrible Histories. With food scarce and rationing taking hold, plenty of people turned to the black market to get more than their share. In this tale, a girl finds herself mixed up in a spiv's illegal dealings - and what is the secret of the haunted farm?
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‘Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical’ - Books For Keeps
Wessex, Southern England, 878. Fortune is not on the side of the English and the Vikings will soon control all the land. Even young Ethelbert believes he could do a better job than King Alfred. Little does he know that soon he will be called on to prove it.
Terry Deary's Viking Tales explore the world and mythology of the Vikings through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. These stories feature real people from history and take place in some of the most recognizable Viking settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.
Book band: Brown
Ideal for ages 7+
Quizzed for Accelerated Reader
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A fast-paced Stone Age adventure ideal for readers aged 7+.
Skara Brae, Orkney, Scotland. 5000 years ago.
On the cold and windy island of Skara Brae, Tuc and his sister Storm try to catch birds in their fishing net. They eat fish day in, day out, and they're sick of it. But when a thief steals half their tribe's winter food stores, being bored of their dinner is the least of their problems. What if they starve? And even worse, what if it's true that their father's the thief?
An exciting tale based on real historical and archaeological evidence, this story is full of Terry Deary's imaginative style and dry wit. With helpful reading notes to extend learning, this book is the perfect springboard for further study of the Stone Age under the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum.
Book band: Grey
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical' - Books For Keeps
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AD 64
Rome is a frightening place. But little does Christian slave girl Mary realise the dangers that await her when she accompanies her master to the city. It is the day of the chariot races and Mary finds herself the only witness to a terrible crime. Soon it is not just the thieves and drunks she has to worry about, but someone far more cruel and powerful...
A tale based on a key moment in Roman history, full of Terry Deary's dark humour and dry wit.
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'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.' Books For Keeps
From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps
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AD 51
Bran is a slave, a prisoner of Rome, but dreams of one day returning to his homeland, Britannia, to fight against the Romans. When the proud young slave is overheard criticizing Rome, he is thrown into prison and faces execution the next day. Luckily, his cell mate Caratacus is a very special prisoner indeed - a British chief. He believes he has a way to save both their skins, but he'll need Bran's help.
A tale based on a key moment in Roman history, full of Terry Deary's dark humour and dry wit.
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‘Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical.’ Books For Keeps