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
Hatti wrote on 27 February 2009:
The Diamond of Drury Lane was the first book that I literally couldn't put down! I have read it three times now and am desperate to find a copy of Cat among the Pigeons somewhere! BTW Julia Golding is quite possibly the BEST author in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love Ms. Golding's most loyal reader, Hatti Wicks xxxxxx
Hanifa wrote on 24 February 2009:
Good book bit hard to understand though so i red it twice :D
Caroline wrote on 23 February 2009:
Hey, I was just wondering what book shop, and at what time you are going to tomorrow in High Wycombe!! Because I live there and really want to meet you please can u reply as soon as possible! Your biggest fan C xxxx (Hi Caroline, I'm at the Wycombe High School but if Waterstones come along I'll probably sign some copies for the local store. It might be worth asking next time you are in there if you want a special copy of one of the books. Julia)
iqra wrote on 23 February 2009:
do you like reading books, do you like books in the harry potter series, you and j.k.rowling are the best authors on earth you should be the queen of books, what do you think? (KInd of you to say so - but reading should be a republic, don't you think? Julia)
aaminah wrote on 23 February 2009:
diamond of drury lane is so good are you going to write a new book in the series of cat royal? (There are 5 in print in the UK, 2 in the US. J)
iqra wrote on 23 February 2009:
i read another one of your book cat amongst the pigeons it was great
sofia wrote on 19 February 2009:
hello your book is cooool and very mesteryos. yo think you be my friend i'm 9 years old hat are you
anne wrote on 18 February 2009:
i really enjoy the catherine royal book and i wish you write more book about her (Take a look round this site - there are five so far. J)
Rosie wrote on 15 February 2009:
I absolutely loved this book! I've read all the books in the series and they are all brilliant! I can't wait until Cat's cradle is out.
sarah wrote on 13 February 2009:
one thing, your brill love sarah
Tess wrote on 04 February 2009:
Dear Julia Golding, i realy enjoy your books and was really disapointed that cats cradle was to be realeasedin 2010. but i also think that you are the best writer to come up with a brilliant start to a brilliant book. as i know because i'm writing a book calles field days and is on the 15th chapter, so far so good,hey love from your eager reader, Tess
iqra wrote on 29 January 2009:
julia all your books are great and so are you
Johanna wrote on 28 January 2009:
This is such an exciting book that it keeps you turnig the pages until your done with the whole book. When I read this book I felt like I knew Cat and her friends, I felt like I could relate to her and that I was having fun right along side her, like I was running right along side her. I held my breath when she did and let it out when she did not even relizing that I was holding my breath until I let it out. I would totally recomend this book to any of my friend. And right now as I am waiting for the next book to come in I try to focuse on my other books but my mind keeps drifting to what will happen to Cat in her next adventure.
Melanie wrote on 27 January 2009:
I strongly agree with Eliza!!! The girl on the front covers is nowhere near how I imagine Cat. That looks like a little girl not the gorgeous, witty, intelligent, brave (the list goes on!) young woman that all teenage girls who read this book aspire to be like! Don't get rid of the front covers you haev!!!!!!!! Plz! Thanx 4 ur time ! Mel (Hey guys it's the US cover and already out! Julia)
Kayla wrote on 26 January 2009:
I Loved this book and was so upset when I finished it. It was a wonderful story and I hope to oneday be half the writer Julia Golding is!
Elizabth wrote on 25 January 2009:
I love Cat!!! She is ssssooooo fun. Her books are some of the most exciting books ever. I hope we get more of her books soon in the U.S.
Eliza wrote on 24 January 2009:
NO!!!! Don't change the covers! They were so cool they represented the book so well! That girl doesn't look a thing like Cat! She looks way too neat! Eliza PS - Never make a movie of the Cat Royal books
Nancy wrote on 22 January 2009:
I love Cat so much! I've read the first like seven times and most likely will do the same with the others. I totally want Cat to eventually fall for either Syd or Billy. So does everyone right? I have to admit that in my picture of the stories, Billy's cuter, but I suppose I'll be happy either way. Of course if it's Syd I'll wish it was Billy and if it's Billy I'll wish it was Syd. I'm never satisfied. Any way, I think for the time being we should stick with our foot loose fancy free girl. I can totally relate to Cat as well. Probably one of the reasons why I love her so much!
hannah wrote on 20 January 2009:
oh julia your books are the best in the whole world the saying don't judge a book by it cove is true because when i was first introuced to the book by my friend i thought it would be boring but t was soooooooooooooooo good
Cecily Hitchcock wrote on 18 January 2009:
I thought 'The Diamond Of Drury Lane' was the most amazing book i had ever read and it truly is the best book ever! In my opinion, i think that they are utterly outragous and full of funny notes.I especially like 'The Diamond Of Drury Lane' because it has a character in it who reminds me a bit like myself, Cat! I think im a little bit like Cat because i always have a notebook and pen with me and i have written over three books!!! (sadly unfinished) You have made me want to write even more books! i was terribly sad when i realised that you stopped writing the 'Cat Royal' books, pretty please with a cherry on top will write a few more? You said that you read english at Cambridge, i live in Cambridgeshire. i love the way Cat is always feisty and it really is true that she has nine lives. I don't think any other books come closer to these ones, even the Jacquilne Wilson ones! You utterly are a Literacy superstar and you are (at the moment and possibly forever) my idol! I love all Cat's friends and i despise her enemies. Cat's friends all have intresing lifes. My favourite is Syd because he is a big and burly butcher/boxer but really a soft hearted lad who keeps Cat safe. Lizzie and Frank Avon are really great characters. They are siblings but have completly different personalities. Frank is naughty and does things that a dukes son shouldn't do a.k.a dress as a chimney sweep to go to a boxing match . Lizzie on the other hand, is pretty and gentle and doesn't mess about at all, she has one love which is Lord Jonathon Fitzroy/ Johnny Smith/ Captain Sparkler. i can't wait to see if they end up together! Pedro is a very important character in your books and i think it wouldn't be a 'The Diamond Of Drury Lane' without him. He is a black former slave who was bought by a maestro in the Theatre Royal. I love the way you write with emotion, when Cat cries I cry, when Cat giggles i giggle etc..etc blah blah.... Anyway I hope that you get this message (or in better words,a very long paragraph) I am your number one fan and i love every single book you have read! I also think that you should definatly write more Cat Royal books because they capture every emotion my my body, like a tiger leaping out on a helpless warthog sorry about that similie i just had to put one in! From your most defianatly devoted fan. Cecily Antonia Hitchcock P.S write more Cat books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Hi Cecily - there are 5 out there and more over the next few years! Julia)
Add your message