But strong, square Hercules was ready and willing to do anything to redeem himself for his terrible deeds, and was more than up to the task of defeating monsters, creatures and giants. Unwilling to kill his son, Zeus (prompted by Hera) sent Hercules to live as a slave in Eurystheus' household, where he was sent to perform a number of seemingly impossible tasks.

When Hercules had grown, married and had children, Hera tempted him to drink, which led to a drunken rage and the consequent murder of his own family. Unable to dispose of him as a baby, Hera watched and waited until the time came that she could take her revenge on her unfaithful husband by depriving him of his son. Born of Zeus, king of the gods, and Alcmene, one of Zeus' mortal lovers, he was despised by Hera from birth. Hercules has had it rough from the beginning. Peter Pan in Scarlet was published in 2006.

In 2005, she was chosen to write the official sequel to J. White Darkness (2005), was shortlisted for the 2005 Whitbread Children's Book Award. Her book, Not the End of the World, is currently being adapted for the stage. Geraldine McCaughrean lives in Berkshire. These books include The Orchard Book of Greek Myths (1992) and The Orchard Book of Roman Myths (1999). She specialises in the retelling of classic tales such as The Canterbury Tales (1984), The Odyssey (1993), Moby Dick (1996) and El Cid (1989) and of myths and legends from around the world. Geraldine McCaughrean has also written several collections of stories, including bible stories and fairy tales. She writes for children of all ages, from first readers, picture books, and younger children’s books, to children’s novels, which include A Little Lower than the Angels (1987), Gold Dust (1993) and Not the End of the World (2004), each of which have won the Whitbread Children’s Book Award, making her the only writer to have won this award three times. Her adult novels include Fires’ Astonishment (1990) and The Ideal Wife (1997), but she is best-known for her children’s books. She has written over 120 books, 50 short plays for schools, and a radio play. She studied at Christ Church College of Education, Canterbury and worked in a London publishing house for 10 years before becoming a full-time writer in 1988. Geraldine McCaughrean was born in 1951 and brought up in North London.

Hercules by Geraldine McCaughrean