Author Graham Whitlock (and thanks to the power of time travel, H.G. Wells) welcomed 50 guests of all ages to the Crystal Palace Museum last week (17th November) to mark the release of a time-travelling new novel for young teens, The Crystal Palace Chronicles: Star of Nimrod, just a fortnight ahead of the 85th anniversary of the burning of the People’s Palace.

The museum, the last standing part of the Crystal Palace, was a poignant and fitting location to celebrate the release of this first book in a series, which is already selling out across local bookshops, and attracting rave reviews from young readers aged 10-14 as well as teachers and librarians.

“Thank you for inviting the Upper Norwood Library Hub to the Star of Nimrod launch at the Museum. An exciting book for all ages and a fantastic evening in the perfect setting. Already looking forward to the next in the trilogy!” – Emily Jewell, Director of the Upper Norwood Library Hub

“The book launch for Star of Nimrod was great fun. A wonderful Q&A with the author who explained the inspiration and passion from his growing up in Crystal Palace, the history and characters who inhabited this area for so many years, all magically versed into a well written fictional story you can’t put down… or is it fictional?! A fantastic book and brilliantly scribed.” – Tim Sharville, born-and-bred CP local and creator of Gunpowder Studios Games.

“It was a thrill to share Star of Nimrod in one of the last remaining remnants of the Crystal Palace, surrounded by its past and by people who are as passionate as me in wanting to bring it to life for the young and the young at heart. And to have one of the book’s main characters Bertie – aka H. G. Wells – lead my Q&A made it a night I’ll never forget (so glad he got his Time Machine working).” – Graham Whitlock, Author of The Crystal Palace Chronicles