The Kestrel

In the second volume of the Westmark trilogy, Theo is about to be Prince of Westmark, a province marked by great poverty and corruption. But an assassin's pistol shot makes things even more dangerous for the new monarchy.

Penguin Decades bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published, some were bestsellers, some were considered scandalous, and others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time and helped define their generation, while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling. Barry Hines's A Kestrel for a Knave was published in 1968, and was made into one of the key British films of the sixties. Billy Casper is beaten by his drunken brother, ignored by his mother and failing at school. He seems destined for a hard, miserable life down the pits, but for a brief time, he finds one pleasure in life: a wild kestrel that he has raised and tamed himself.

Provides a synthesis of prior research and novel results about the behaviour, conservation, ecology, evolution, and physiology of kestrels.

Surprisingly, for one of Europe's commoner birds of prey, relatively little is known about some aspects of the Kestrel's behaviour and associations. Dr Village's book leaves us far better informed and is an inviting combination of readability and scholarship that reflects his dedication and enthusiasm for Falco tinnunculus. The author studied the Kestrel for several years in Scottish hill country and sheepwalk, then in two agricultural areas of eastern England, but his book also includes much valuable observation and data from Europe and elsewhere. Its twenty-one chapters cover all aspects of the Kestrel's life cycle, with special emphasis on breeding performance, population densities and turnover, and age and sex ratios. A section of over seventy tables of supporting data concludes the book. Keith Brockie has contributed over 30 illustrations which admirably enhance the pages.

Rune, Robin and Nightingale together they will save us all. (If we're very lucky) Rune: She ran away from an abusive home to become the greatest violinist her world had ever known¾and when The Ghost of Skull Hill tried to stop her, she played him to sleep! Robin: No mean musician herself, she must make her own visit to Skull Hill¾to recruit the dreadful ghost to their cause. Nightingale: Alone she could accomplish nothing. So she joined forces with T'fyrr, a strange nonhuman with the face of a raptor and the voice of an angelic choir. This unlikely set of heroes had the daunting task of saving the King¾and through him the Gypsies, Free Bards, and non-humans of the twenty kingdoms. Fortunately, their opponents had no idea how potent a weapon music could be . . . . At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). " . . . fast and furious. Romance, action, intrigue all blend in a believable fantastic setting. Fans of Lackey and fantasy will be delighted with this addition to her series." ¾Kliatt