Charles, the Maiden and the Ogre

By Sorcha Duggan

"Charles loved books. He loved girls & music & books in that order."

He finds happiness for a while, working in a bookshop but it doesn't last. One day, he confides to his friend, the writer and philosopher that, "it would be rather nice to live inside a book."

Charles' friend promises to do what she can to help him. So begins his odyssey.

Encouraged by the advice of a medieval bard - who appears to him one day under the shadow of a large willow tree - Charles sets out to claim his true love: a flame-haired beauty who is kept enslaved by the all-powerful Ogre of Inishmean. Proving once and for all that "the pen is mightier than the sword any day", Charles rescues the maiden and in doing so, releases her dreams, which the Ogre had kept imprisoned within his dark heart, from which no blood could flow.

This is a book for everyone who believes in happy endings - or who simply like stories filled with fantasy, humour and characters we all can relate to. It will appeal to adults as much as to children and to anyone who remains young at heart.

Company Magazine described this book as "a modern day fairy tale, genuinely original."

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Manuscript Publisher
• Release date: Aug 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9780957115750

Sorcha Duggan

Sorcha Duggan lives and works in Dublin, Ireland. She has been writing for a number of years. This is her first published book. The story of Charles, the Maiden and the Ogre originally appeared as a short story entry for a competition organised by Company Magazine. The book was chosen as one of two runners-up and was highly commended by the judges.

Book preview

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.

― Albert Einstein

What people who read this book had to say about it:

A modern-day fairy tale, genuinely original. - Sam Baker, Company Magazine

Well-written, imaginative and truly original. I can honestly say there is no other story quite like it. - Sam Baker, Company Magazine

"I totally enjoyed reading this fairy tale of love. If one wants a bit of magic in their day, and one's imagination to be alive read Charles, the Maiden and the Ogre. The book is charming, funny, dreamy and so is Charles. Love is pursued, vows are exchanged! Long live the beauty of love! I am looking forward to the