'When you take out the heart of gold, you must put something back in its place. Otherwise our princess would die.' Giorgio, a poor student, sets out on a journey to win the heart of Princess Charlotte of Oberweselberg. On the way an old woman promises he shall have the princess - but for a price. Giorgio must bring her the princess's golden heart. Can he do the wicked deed which will possess for him the fortune he desires? Leon Garfield was the acclaimed author of more than thirty novels for children and adults. He received many accolades during his career, including the inaugural Guardian Children'e(tm)s Fiction Prize, the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Literary Award.