Mary Hooper is a very popular writer for children and young adults. Mary's brilliant historical novels, At the House of the Magician, By Royal Command, At the Sign of the Sugared Plum, Petals in the Ashes and The Extraordinary Life and Times of Eliza Rose have a huge fan base, as do her contemporary novels for teenagers, such as the prequel Megan. Mary is very much in demand for her events at literary festivals and schools. She lives in Henley-on-Thames.

England im Jahr 1655. Die 15-jährige Eliza wird von ihrer Stiefmutter aus dem Haus geworfen und macht sich auf den Weg nach London - nur um dort wegen einer Lappalie sofort im Gefängnis zu landen. Eine Frau, die sich als ihre Tante ausgibt, kauft sie frei - doch warum eigentlich? Bald trifft sie auf die Schauspielerin Nell Gwyn, die Eliza einführt in die glitzernde Welt des Theaters und der höfischen Intrigen. Und dann lüftet Eliza nach und nach das Geheimnis ihrer wahren Herkunft ... Eliza is ousted by her new stepmother from her family and finally makes her way to London - only to be thrown straight into prison for stealing a mouthful of bread. At this point Eliza's life takes some remarkable twists as she learns to survive the sordid prison life, is rescued by a woman she has never met before pretending to be her aunt - but for what exactly? - and befriends Nell Gwynn who introduces her to the courtly intrigue, politics and glamour of the court of King Charles. And then Eliza finds out about her true background ...

A hugely enjoyable historical romp Packed full of well-researched historical detail Author now fully recognised as a highly popular writer of historical fiction for teenagers.

London, 1670. Fifteen-year-old Eliza Rose is thrown into Clink Prison for stealing a pasty. As fate moves her along, from orange seller to highwayman's moll to lady's maid, Eliza takes many remarkable guises, but she still doesn't know where she belongs. A gripping and vivid historical novel with a good dose of romance, treason, murder and royal intrigue. Ages: 12+.