Meanwhile, the First World War is destroying his career, his country and his pride in the German people. As Germany and the Hackendahl family unravel, Gustav has to learn to compromise if he is to hold onto anything he holds dear. Iron Gustav is both a moving, realist account of the aftermath of the First World War, and a deeply involving story of a family in crisis. Yet running through the unflinching truth, immediacy and emotional power of Fallada's prose is the charming, almost folkloric whimsicality that makes him such a master story-teller.

    The mighty saga of three generations cursed by a bloodstained fortune, set in the 19th century.

    Marcelina's father comes home from a trip to Manila with beautiful hand-made sleeping mats for each member of his large family, including the three daughters who died when they were very young.

     This is the first book about Orlando, the famous marmalade cat whose "eyes reminded you of twin green gooseberries." He and Grace, his beautiful Tabby wife, have three kittens - Tortoiseshell Pansy, White Blanche and Coal Black Tinkle. In this first story Orlando and his family go off for a camping holiday where the kittens learn to swim, paint pictures of the scenery and generally enjoy themselves in the countryside.