The Phoenix and the Carpet

“The Phoenix and the Carpet” is a 1904 fantasy children's novel by E. Nesbit. The second in a trilogy of novels beginning with “Five Children and It” (1902), it follows the escapades of the same five children: Anthea, Cyril, Robert, Jane and the “Lamb”. In this story, the children receive a new carpet from their mother to replace one destroyed in a fire. The children discover an egg inside it, which eventually hatches into a wish-granting phoenix that enables the children to go on many fantastical adventures. Edith Nesbit (1858 – 1924) was an English poet and author. She is perhaps best remembered for her children's literature, publishing more than 60 such books under the name E. Nesbit. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, which had a significant influence on the Labour Party and British politics in general. Other notable works by this author include: “The Prophet's Mantle” (1885), “Something Wrong” (1886), and “The Marden Mystery” (1896). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.