Jail-breaker Jack

by Chris Priestley

In 1720, 1000 people lined up to visit young Jack Sheppard in Newgate Prison. So how did a poor apprentice boy become the most famous man in London? Jack's a petty thief with a cheeky grin and a gift for getting out of a tight spot. His astonishing escapes from jail enrage the authorities and make him a popular hero. But, thwarted by Jonathan Wild, the Thieftaker General, Jack ends up in London's toughest prison, condemned to hang. Can he pull off another escape to save his life? With a colourful cast of anti-heroes, villains and other low-lifes, and a plot featuring double-crossings, disguises and thrilling escapes, "Jailbreaker Jack" is a fast-paced read packed with atmosphere and suspense. It is illustrated throughout by the author.

This is a fact-based read, packed with atmosphere and suspense. -- Books Magazine, June 2001

Chris Priestley is a talented author-illustrator. Taught by Tony Ross in Manchester, he lectured in drawing at Southampton School of Art. He then became daily political cartoonist for The Independent, and has had regular strip cartoons in The Independent on Sunday, The Observer and The Economist. He has illustrated several children's books, and written and illustrated a short book for young children to be published late 2000. Jailbreaker Jack is his first full-length book. He first became interested in Jack when working at a studio close to Jack's birthplace in Shoreditch, East London. Dog Magic (published by Transworld) was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award