Lizzie: Lethal Innocence (Lizzie Series, Book 1) - Softcover

Whittle, J. Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0968506100 ISBN 13: 9780968506103

Publisher: Whitlands Publishing Ltd., 1999

Synopsis

Nine-year-old Lizzie Short is street smart and spunky. She needs to be, for living on the streets in the harsh environment of Eastside London in the early 19th century, has been anything but easy, especially for a girl. Lizzie, however, is no ordinary girl and when her four friends are deported to Australia (at beginning of the story) for merely stealing food, she finds herself forced to begin a new life and she is up for the challenge.

This Canadian bestselling novel is the heartwarming story of a homeless young girl who through a series of incidents, changes the direction of her life and soon gains a reputation for her compassion, credible business decisions, and imaginative feats of daring adventure.

Lizzie has an intriguing way of dealing with people - her friend, Quon Lee, the Chinese boy who lives in a barrel, her adopted father, Joe, and the many other memorable characters of all ages and walks of life who frequent the dockland area on the Thames. The combination of loyalty, frivolity and family life depicted in this remarkable story of ordinary working-class people is an excellent achievement lacking both sexual innuendo and scenes of gratuitous violence.

Recognized internationally as a delightful, multi-cultural, multi-generational read, these books are applauded by homeschoolers, libraries and school teachers in many countries. This volume has also been recommended reading for at least several colleges and university English Lit. classes.

Whittle has also written the bestselling series, the Victoria Chronicles (Bound by Loyalty and Loyalty's Reward) set in the Pacific Northwest (Victoria BC and Seattle WA) 1900-1917.

About this title

From the Publisher:

If you are discovering J. Robert Whittle's novels for the first time, you're in for a surprising treat. Although his books have already amassed a huge following, Whittle is a relatively new novelist on the scene. Born in Yorkshire, England, he credits four things with having greatly influenced his life: his mother, his grandfather, a strong work ethic, and a love of history. Being an amateur historian since a child, his historical research for these books is impeccable. Having four sisters no doubt also played a role. For when he began writing in 1994, he often found himself telling the stories of women struggling against all odds, and many say his sensitivity to the subject of women's rights is both remarkable and heartwarming.

Lizzie: Lethal Innocence, set in early 19th century London, England, was Whittle's first published novel and, beginning with the area of Western Canada where he now calls home, I am delighted to admit that it appears we have quietly created a phenomenon. Selling these books solely in local bookstores and markets/craft shows, this remarkable man soon realized his readers must be right - he could write - and so, happily, he continues to do so when he isn't out amongst his public selling and signing books. This appeases his now international audience which grew in an extraordinary manner through the tourist trade of Victoria, BC, and word of mouth, as readers of all ages discovered these 'family-friendly' novels. We often hear delightful stories of families setting up reading schedules of a few hours each when a new novel surfaces. Of course, there are many cheaters to this system! I wonder how many books can brag of this joyful situation?

Hence, because of this popularity, Whitlands Publishing has now published four books in the Lizzie Series and two in his more recent series set in Canada/USA, The Victoria Chronicles. Lizzie: Lethal Innocence and Bound by Loyalty (the first book in the Chronicles) are Canadian bestselling novels and his eager and devoted fans keep us busy producing novels each year as we try keep up to his readership. In 2005, distribution across Canada and the USA became a reality and, thanks to the internet, all Robert's books are now available worldwide.

If I could wish for one thing with regard to these books, it would be to interest a large publisher or agent to take on what I have begun. History needs these gentle, refreshing stories, like many of those favourites of yesteryear ... Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Woman of Substance. Personally, I would like more time to read Robert's books as I, like many readers, want to reread them over and over again. He has many more books waiting to be published and I fear that only through the help of a larger publisher will they see the light of day and that would be a travesty.

This often outspoken former mining engineer had no idea he could write such inspirational stories and I am proud to be the first publisher to have brought them to light. Robert was a young 65 years at the time and, like Lizzie, he was a child phenomenon who never stops producing winning ideas ... and writing wonderful stories.

From the Author:

When I began to write Lizzie, actually my third novel, I had no idea who she was or where she would lead me but I soon realized she had taken possession of me and wouldn't let go. When friends and family encouraged me to continue writing, due to a health problem I had nothing else to do, so I humored them. I had grown up in England and always loved history. Because of my knowledge I used to help the teacher in history class. Sometimes for fun, I made up stuff that she tried to find not believing me when I told her it was untrue.

Lizzie came about because my wife suggested I should write about a girl for a change but nothing else about this book was a planned exercise. As Lizzie grows up I find myself becoming more engrossed in her character. My fans keep demanding more books, thus there are now four volumes in the Lizzie Series. I love her like a sister and I share some of my own youth with her like the early days in our stone farmhouse, my grandfather smoking his pipe, one-room schools, outhouses, and warming our behinds at the open fire!

About this edition

• Publisher: Whitlands Publishing Ltd.
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0968506100
• ISBN 13: 9780968506103
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224