Five Children and It

　　有天錫爾、羅伯、安西雅和珍，這四個孩子帶著最的小弟弟，在一望無垠的沙灘上玩耍。突然，從沙子底鑽出來一隻，擁有一雙蝸牛般凸起的眼睛，身上亂蓬蓬的毛就像猴子一樣的怪物出現，而牠自稱為「沙之精靈」。
　　
　 　沙之精靈和《阿拉丁神燈》裡的燈神一樣可以實現任何願望，但牠的魔力卻有時限的，而且牠的脾氣還不小喔！牠每天只能滿足這四個孩子一個願望，而且太陽下 山時，魔法將會失效。因此，這四個孩子當然趕緊提出不少願望，但沒想到麻煩卻接踵而至，這一連串心驚動迫的歷險即將展開……

　　*本中文簡介取自<<沙之精靈>>由漢湘文化出版

　　Whilst out playing in the countryside, five children come across a Psammead called ‘It’ – a cantankerous little sand fairy who agrees to grant them one wish every day, though its effects will only last until sunset. The possibilities seem endless to the adventurous siblings but whatever their wishes, whether it’s having piles of money, growing wings, or disposing of their annoying infant brother, their days never seem to go as planned. Indeed, the consequences of all their wishes lead the children into many thrilling and often hilarious escapades.

　　Edith Nesbit was inspired by her own five children to write this enchanting novel, and its warm and funny portrayal of a magical childhood has ensured its presence in print ever since.

　　This beautifully illustrated Macmillan Collector’s Library edition of Five Children and It features the drawings of H. R. Millar, and an afterword by writer, critic and broadcaster Nicolette Jones.

　　Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector’s Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector’s Library are books to love and treasure.

伊蒂絲．內斯比特（Edith Nesbit，1858－1924）
　　
　　英國女作家，生於倫敦，父親是農業化學家。伊蒂絲是家中五個孩子當中最小的，三歲時，父親不幸去世，九歲時，全家移居法國，之後還曾住在德國一段時日。
　　
　 　1876年，伊蒂絲在雜誌上發表了她的第一首詩。從此開始了文學創作生涯。伊蒂絲一生的經濟都不甚寬裕，她在二十一歲結婚，但在丈夫做生意失敗破產之 後，便一直靠寫作維生。她和?英國文豪──著名劇作家蕭伯納是好朋友，因為是同行，同時也都是費邊社的社員。蕭伯納曾資助過她，幫她的孩子支付學費。 1915年，由於她在文學上的成就，?英國政府頒發養老金給她。
　　
　　伊蒂絲出版過一百多本書，這些書籍包括了各種文體。伊蒂絲在兒童 文學的創作方面聲名遠播、成就非凡，歐亞諸國紛紛翻譯她的代表作。而伊蒂絲也被譽為「第一位為兒童寫作的現代作家」，其代表作有《鐵路旁的孩子》（The Railway Children）、《護身符的故事》（The Story of the Amulet）、《魔堡》（The Wouldbegoods）和《沙之精靈》（原名Five Children and It五個孩子與牠）等書，這些故事的內容緊張懸疑、曲折離奇，伊蒂絲以豐富的想像力加上傑出的文筆，帶給孩子?怢?歷其境、真實可信的感受。

　　Edith Nesbit was born in 1858 into a middle-class family of declining fortunes. After surviving a tough and nomadic childhood she met her husband, Hubert Bland, in 1877 and married him three years later whilst pregnant with their first child. Nesbit began writing in the 1880s when Bland’s business failed, forcing her to support their growing family. Considered one of the first modern writers for children, Nesbit’s novels included The Story of The Treasure Seekers (1899), Five Children and It (1902) and The Railway Children (1906). An ardent socialist, Nesbit was one of the founding members of the Fabian Society. She died in Kent in 1924.