Children's book I once read

[Cheeris]

When I was a nipper in the 80s, I vaguely remember getting a book out of the local children's library.

It was a children's novel, fairly lengthy for a kids book, and it was the story (I think) of a man living in an approximation to the real world but then inherited a large fantastical city as his birthright. I not sure if he was a king or prince or anything like that, maybe more that the city was his property. The city was vast and populated with a huge variety of weird and wonderful characters, including talking, intelligent and walking upright animals.

The only detail I can remember is that he had a butler called Leominster, who was an actual upright talking lion with a smart jacket and a dignified demeanour!

I am fairly certain that the book was part of a series of stories concerning this man and his getting to grips with the city (I think the city was at war with a neighbour at one point). The book were illustrated with simple children's line drawings I think, and if memory is correct the books were fairly old, possibly even first published pre-WWII.

Sorry for the lack of any real detail - but I have been trying to track down the name of this book/series for years now. Any help appreciated!

[ruthandsam]

My son suggested that you did an advanced search via below. Hope it helps and let me know how you get on!

http://books.google.com/books

[Cheeris]

Thanks for the suggestion - I've already tried that though, with no success.

Google is pretty much useless given the lack of details in my memory. I've trawled through pages and pages of search results but the only results I get back are for the various towns called Leominster!

Thanks again though.

[inksplotter]

A lengthy children's book with coloured illustrations???

You obviously have never read Lord of the Rings. Or even something like Treasure Island.

Not judging, it's just that children's books without coloured illustrations tend to be longer.