The Diamond of Drury Lane
The Diamond of Drury Lane
Winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and the Nestle Children's Book Prize in 2006.
At the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, Covent Garden,
This present day, being 1st January, 1790,
Will be presented the COMEDY, of
The Diamond of Drury Lane
(A comedy written in five acts by Miss Cat Royal.)
Cat Royal, orphan, adventurer and ward of the Theatre Royal, lives among the most gifted actors and musicians of the age. She rubs shoulders with the highest in society, and plays in the gutter of Covent Garden with the lowest. We are pleased to present to you her story, a tale of one hidden diamond, two bare-knuckle boxers, and three dread enemies...
With a New Musical INTERLUDE
by Mr Pedro Hawkins, late of Africa.
To which will be added a farce, called
The Mogul’s Tale
In which a hot air balloon will land on stage.
Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. First Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s.
Places for the boxes to be had from Mr. Smith at the stage-door of the Theatre.
No Persons to be admitted behind the Scenes without permission, nor any Money to be returned after the Curtain is drawn up.
Vivat REX.
Messages
Isabelle Capomolla wrote on 19 November 2006:
amazing and totally wicked though i accidentally read cat among the pigeons first!
Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff (12-13) wrote on 15 November 2006:
Hiya I absoloutley loved your book! I have just finished reading it, and it has inspired me to write my own story. My only problem is I need to research the time it is set in and I can't find any good sites or books!! I read your book way into the night (till 12:00 to be precise) because of its eloquence, grandeur & all the rest. You should DEFINETLY write a sequel, or at least continue writing childrens books. My fathers company (SYT) is planning to do a play on it in 2008, amazing, huh! Thankyou ever so much!
angel wrote on 14 November 2006:
the diamond of drury lane is AMAZING! I love the drama and all the action. You really can't put it down! Thanks for writing such a fantastic book Julia!
ellablla wrote on 12 November 2006:
i love the diamond of drury lane its amazing and exciting .
marina wrote on 11 November 2006:
the book is aosome!
jessica wrote on 11 November 2006:
I thought that your first book was fantastic! I've just read the second book, cat amongst the pigeons, and thought it was equally as good. The book is full of intrigue and drama, and i love the blurbs and the way you write it as if it were a play. Hope there will be a third! (Yes, there will be a third - Den of Thieves)
alice wrote on 06 November 2006:
i lov ur book it is da best ever tanxs i cant wait to read da next one
Anasatsia Storey wrote on 03 November 2006:
Hi i am starting to read the book diomand of drury lane because of a competition which is called the nestle book awards i love the begging part were the diomand suddenley pops in and i love the blurb i read that frist and it's so mysterious thats why i volenteered to read it! I also love it how all the characters pop in at the beggining too! I cant wait to read the rest of the book and i will tell you if I liked it! Im sure i will!
Faye wrote on 29 October 2006:
I loved your first book The Diamond of Drury Lane. I thought it was a great story and it had lots of drama and I love the way you have set it out as a play! Its a great book and I've just finished the sequal and that is fabulous too, with humour and adventure. Can't wait for the third one to come out!! That sounds like its going to be amazing. I would give it a 10/10 and you have inspired me also!
millie wrote on 25 October 2006:
this book is amazing i loved it so much i read it twice the sequal i just as good i just hope there will be a third. Thanx XX
elle wrote on 22 October 2006:
i have read your book along with my 5 friends we loved your book and loved the way you introduced new characters into the story my friend elizabeth is hoping to turn you story round into a fantastic play we have sorted out characters and we hope to rase money for children in need 2006, we thought your use of words was the best and we also hope to read another of your fantastic stories
Alessandra wrote on 18 October 2006:
Dear Julia What grabbed my attention first was the title; 'Drury Lane' to be specific as I had recently been to the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, I read the back and was instantly in love with the idea. Many a time I have been hasty in buying books and been dissapointed by the content, however, 'The Diamond Of Drury Lane' kept me up all night with it's fantastic story line and gripping characters and I was completely and utterly fulfilled. The book had been read in merely a few hours but the next day during school my fingers itched to pick the book up again. Once I discovered that there was to be a sequel I was smilling broadly for days on end. I have read and re-read both 'The Diamond Of Drury Lane' and 'Cat Among The Pigeons' so many times that the pages are beginning to fray horribly. In a simple short sentence; I adore this book, and have recommended it to my school library. It has also inspired me to pick up my pen and write again after quite the hiatus. Thank you for giving the world such a gift.
honor wrote on 14 October 2006:
I have only just started reading this book, and I know that it is goning to be brillient. I think that i spelt the last word wrong... ohh well !!!
maria wrote on 03 October 2006:
whats it like to be a writer Dear Maria Being a writer is great fun for almost all the time - you get to spend your working day imagining stories. I suppose occasionally it can be lonely and you need to be disciplined to get down to work, and there is always the problem of handling criticism. But I love it all and wouldn't do anything else now. Julia
Harriet wrote on 01 October 2006:
Dear Julia I absolutely LOVED this book and have read it about five times!
sophie duncan wrote on 25 September 2006:
this book is really good i just read it i would give it 10/10 and so would my m8 who read it and i hope u would write more books love sophie duncan xxx
Grace gittins wrote on 06 September 2006:
I have just this minute put this book down! But i bought it on saturday and finished it on tuesday that is how good it was, I couldn't put it down. I recommended it to my mum and she is starting to read it. My mum asked me " Grace what is the best book you have ever read?" I thought to my self well thats a silly question its obvious " The Diamond of Drury Lane!" I think you are truly blessed to have such a wonderful writing talent and imagination.I can't wait to start reading Cat amongst the pigeons. I hope that you make another one after that because your stories make peoples dreams come alive. For instance I liked the sentence " Remember Boil, Cats have 9 lives!!!" It made me want the name cat, I thought it was ever so clever how you gripped the readers all the time. As at night time i was so tired I had to put the book down but then it got more exciting so I couldn't. You have truly inspired me! Thank you
Shona Symons wrote on 05 September 2006:
I recently read The Diamond of Drury Lane aloud to my daugher (8) and it was one of the most enjoyable and instructive books we have read together. We had many discussions about issues raised such as slavery and the abolitionists. We were both enthralled and fell in love with Cat and really enjoyed all aspects of the novel. Yesterday we were shopping in Waterstones and were SO excited and pleased to discover a sequel and the prospect of a third.The only problem is i now have to wait for my daughter to finish it before I can read it. Thank you.
shannon fox wrote on 03 September 2006:
i loved this book, it was just as good as secret of the sirens and the gorgons gaze.
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