Stoneleigh author releases Coventry-based history book for children

An author from Stoneleigh has released a Coventry-based history book aimed at young people.

Sheila Woolf's book 'The Eagle and the Phoenix: Coventry Stories for Young People' is the fourth that she has had published.

Sheila was Head of English at King Henry VIII School in Coventry up until her retirement.

Since then she has written on aspects of Warwickshire history and regularly lectures on local subjects.

In this book, which is aimed at those aged nine to 12, she wanted to present aspects of Coventry’s history to young people in an interesting way.

She said: "This is my fourth book, though I have contributed to several more and have written many booklets and articles, mostly on local history.

"The latest book hopes to introduce youngsters to some of the history of the area and its dramatic stories."

The book is made up of nine short stories that looks at some of Coventry's history.

A selection of events from Coventry’s past is presented in the stories and is told through the perspective of young people who experienced them.

The stories start with a young boy at the Lunt Fort in Roman times who has a natural affinity with horses but who yearns for his native country. It then moves on to Lady Godiva and her famous ride the streets of Coventry.

Other stories include the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots in Saint Mary’s Hall in the late 16th century, riots of the weavers in the 1830s, the destruction of the cathedral during World War II, and the great success of the Sky Blues in winning the 1987 FA Cup.

The introduction to each chapter is accompanied by a line-art drawing by Earlsdon artist David R. Clarke.

The Eagle and the Phoenix : Coventry Stories for Young People is available from amazon.co.uk and from bookshops including Kenilworth Books and costs £6.95

bookshops price £6.95.