WHISTLING FOR THE ELEPHANTS

THE GLADYS SOCIETY

During high school in America, Sandi Toksvig was one of three girls chosen to play Gladys Antrobus, a character in a play. They formed the ‘Gladys Society’ and thirty years later Sandi returned to the US to find her fellow ‘Gladyses’.

HITLER'S CANARY

When the Germans invade Denmark, Bamse doesn't know how he should behave. Should he try to stay out of trouble or should he follow his brother into the resistance? A dramatic tale of a daring rescue.

MELTED INTO AIR

A theatrical impresario, Frances Angel’s production of Macbeth leaves a lot to be desired. Not helping matters any, her lover has ‘exited stage left’. Her cousin Gina suggests that she travels to Italy to try and find herself and confront her past.

PEAS AND QUEUES: THE MINEFIELD OF MODERN MANNERS

How should you eat peas, and behave in queues? How to behave, like how to punctuate, is an aspect of life that many are no longer taught. Thankfully, Sandi Toksvig has come to the rescue with her entertaining guide to modern manners, with characteristic wit and perceptiveness.

VALENTINE GREY

Valentine Grey arrives from India and finds damp and cold Victorian London insufferable. The only bright spot: her exciting cousin, Reggie. Then comes the Boer War and Reggie's father volunteers him; but it won't be Reggie who goes to war. Valentine takes her chance, puts on her cousin's uniform, leaving Reggie behind and heads off to war.