By Eva Ibbotson (author)
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Romance and intrigue make this lyrical historical adventure an unputdownable read! When a British millionaire sets out to buy a secluded fairy tale castle set high up on a rock above a beautiful lake he finds that its heiress is missing. Meanwhile, the heiress herself is enjoying a secret life working backstage at the Viennese opera. Can the two lives be kept separate forever? Evocative descriptions of the contrasts between the two worlds provide a vivid background for a romp of a read.
Sweeping across countries, class and music, Eva Ibboton's classic historical romance, Magic Flutes, is a richly imagined tale of intrigue and identity, with a new introduction from Harriet Evans.
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Sweeping across countries, class and music, Eva Ibboton's classic historical romance, Magic Flutes , is a richly imagined tale of intrigue and identity, with a new introduction from Harriet Evans.
In the spring of 1922, young Austrian Princess Theresa-Maria - known to her ancient aunts as 'Putzerl' - abandons her crumbling castle and her royal duties. Disguising herself simply as Tessa, she enrolls as under wardrobe mistress of the International Opera Company and soon loses herself in the intoxicating world of the Viennese opera.
But when Guy Farne, an Englishman looking to impress his new fiance, arrives in Austria and employs the Company to perform at his newly purchased Austrian estate, he finds himself fascinated by the under wardrobe mistress, and Tessa finds it increasingly difficult to keep her two lives separate..
Born in Vienna, Eva Ibbotson came to England as a small girl. She spent much of her adult life in Newcastle upon Tyne. When her husband was alive he bred snails in the garage; they also kept fish and had a small and very hairy dog. Eva had four grown-up children and seven grandchildren. She wrote for both adults and children. Which Witch was runner-up for the Carnegie Medal and The Secret of Platform 13 was shortlisted for the Smarties Prize. Journey to the River Sea won the Smarties Book Prize Gold Award, was runner-up for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year and the Guardian Fiction Award, and was also shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
Eva's books for older readers (12+) include: The Morning Gift , A Song for Summer , The Secret Countess , A Company of Swans and Magic Flutes . Her books for younger readers (9+) include: The Dragonfly Pool , Journey to the River Sea and The Star of Kazan.
And for even younger readers (7+): Which Witch , Dial a Ghost , Not just a Witch , Monster Mission , The Beasts of Clawstone Castle , The secret of Platform 13 , The Great Ghost rescue and The Haunting of Hiram .
Eva's final novel that she completed prior to her death at the age of 85 in 2010 is called One Dog and his Boy .
Eva Ibbotson on writing: "I started to scribble stories when I was about seven years old and I just carried on so I became a writer gradually. I didn't try to get anything published until I was quite grown-up. I write at my mother's old desk, looking out on to a leafy street, and I rewrite what I have written again and again until I get the words the way I want them (most of my pages have been through eight drafts or so). It's my belief that one should be in the same place each day, so that if an idea is hovering it knows where to find you. Ideas can come from places one has seen or conversations one has overheard - or just from nowhere! Being an author can be lonely, difficult and frustrating, but there is nothing else I'd rather be."
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Sweeping across countries, class and music, Eva Ibboton's classic historical romance, Magic Flutes, is a richly imagined tale of intrigue and identity, with a new introduction from Harriet Evans. In the spring of 1922, young Austrian Princess Theresa-Maria - known to her ancient aunts as 'Putzerl' - abandons her crumbling castle and her royal duties.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Magic Flutes and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
Magic Flutes features in the following genres: Recommended Children's eBooks, Recommendations, Featured Books for 13+ readers, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Featured Books for Young Adults, Historical Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Julia Eccleshare's Picks of the Month, Romance / Relationship Stories
Paperback. Not Available.
Magic Flutes was written by Eva Ibbotson and published by Macmillan an imprint of Pan Macmillan
Magic Flutes has 384 pages
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