The author is a giant figure in children’s literature, and a great entertainer. The Secret Diary of John Drawbridge is a clever blend of fact and fiction. Propelled by great characters, it is full of exciting historical facts, as young Drawbridge goes off to train to become a knight. Previously a winner of the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Ardagh includes lots of jokes as he shows just how much there is to learn in training to be a knight. How to charge with a lance on horseback without falling off, for example. Or, why spiral staircases always go up in a clockwise direction and why the plates served at banquets are made of stale bread (and why you shouldn’t eat them). The author brings history to life and tells an entertaining story as he does so. Go behind the scenes with him and learn more about the history of the time.