A landscape gardener is hired by famous architect Le Nôtre to construct the grand gardens at the palace of Versailles. As the two work on the palace, they find themselves drawn to each other and are thrown into rivalries within the court of King Louis XIV.
In this magical tale, two children, Nellie and George, are sent to stay at a country house while their parents are moving. While exploring the local forest, George mysteriously disappears into Faery Land. With the help of a friendly hobgoblin named Broom, Nellie eventually finds George playing with faeries. Since he has just eaten some of their food, he is bound by faerie law to remain in Faery Land forever. Nellie agrees to complete three tasks in return for her brother's freedom.
In late 19th-century England, Jude aspires to be an academic, but is hobbled by his blue-collar background. Instead, he works as a stonemason and is trapped in an unloving marriage to a farmer's daughter named Arabella. But when his wife leaves him, Jude sees an opportunity to improve himself. He moves to the city and begins an affair with his married cousin, Sue, courting tragedy every step of the way.
In 1972, disenchanted about the dreary conventions of English life, 25-year-old Julia heads for Morocco with her daughters, six-year-old Lucy and precocious eight-year-old Bea.
Laura Chant. 16, lives with her mother and four-year-old brother Jacko in a poor new suburb on the edge of a partially demolished Christchurch, New Zealand. Laura is drawn into a supernatural battle with an ancient spirit who attacks Jacko and slowly drains the life out of him as the spirit becomes ever younger. Laura discovers her true identity and the supernatural ability within her, and must harness it to save her brother's life.
A young girl, passionate in fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960's where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960's London is not what it seems, and time seems to be falling apart with shady consequences.
Veteran broadcaster James Marriner is persuaded to front a new big budget national family TV channel. But he begins to suspect that the channel is a front for something much more sinister and political.