Lilliput

Lilliput
Sam Gayton
London, Andersen, 2013, 268p

In terms of appearance, this is one of the cutest books I have read in a while. The illustrations are beautiful, the cover is a heavy hardback, and it was more than enough to entice me to read more. 

Lilliput is inspired by the adventures of Jonathan Swift's Gulliver, who, in this book, returns to the island of Lilliput to gather evidence of the miniature people living there. He steals Lily right off the beach, and takes her back to London, where he plans to reveal her to the public as scientific proof. 

Locked in a birdcage, Lily dreams of escape, but struggles to see any of her plans all the way through. She is on Escape Plan Thirty Three when Gulliver suddenly slips into unconsciousness, and with the help of a clock apprentice boy, gets out of Gulliver's attic. Unfortunately, it is not quite to simple to get out of London, and she has no idea where Lilliput actually is in relation to England.

This is an adorable adventure story - a brilliant fantasy that takes inspiration from one of the greatest fantasy novels of all time. The characters are incredible - from the Gothic villain of Mr Plinker, to the eccentric chocolate shop owner, Mr Ozinda. Gayton does not sugar coat the drama of the escape - there is danger at every turn for tiny Lily - but he provides oodles of excitement. 

I wish there were more novels like this - rooted in literary royalty, produced by creative genius, and full of innocent entertainment.