The Tears of the Salamander - Softcover

Mount Etna towers above the remote villa where Alfredo lives with his uncle after a fire wipes out his family. At first he believes mysterious Uncle Giorgio has saved his life, but the man they call the Master of the Mountain is an evil sorcerer with a terrible fate planned for the boy. Deep within the molten veins of Etna swim the magical salamanders, whose tears can cure all mortal ills. Alfredo must use his own strange powers to protect them, destroy his uncle, and control the explosive rage of the volcano . . . 'If you took a poll now to find out who people think is thee greatest living children's author; the result would be tediously predictable. Potter trumps all. But what would happen if you brought criteria other than immediate popularity into the picture - awarding points for originality, intelligence, clarity of style, emotional depth, and sheer range? There is not much doubt, in my mind, that the winner would be Peter Dickinson' Robert Hanks The Independent Magazine

Peter Dickinson is one of the most acclaimed and respected writers of our time and has won nearly every major literary award for his children's novels. THE KIN, his first book for Macmillan, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal in 1999, as was THE ROPEMAKER in 2001. Peter is currently writing the sequel to THE ROPEMAKER, due October 2006. His most recent book for Macmillan, THE GIFT BOAT, was described by Books for Keeps as 'a masterpiece, gripping, the work of a major writer at his very best.' Peter was one of the three shortlisted candidates for the first Children's Laureate. He lives in Hampshire.