POWSELS AND THRUMS

I salute him with the most heartfelt respect and admiration PHILIP PULLMAN One of Britain s greatest writers FINANCIAL TIMES Alan Garner s world is unbearably beautiful and dangerous GUARDIANIn this lyrical and revelatory memoir Alan Garner Booker shortlisted author of Treacle Walker reflects on the lifetime of learning and experience that has led him to become one of the best loved British writers of our time In dazzling essays poetry and stories we trace the line of his life from a working class childhood in the landscape of Cheshire during World War II through a grammar school education and on to the University of Oxford and then home to see if he could become what he most desired a writer We see the serendipitous moments that drove his course from coming of age in a period of great cultural change to crossing paths with a famous mathematician while out long distance running to the fateful day he chanced across Blackden the medieval hall miraculously located next to the giant telescope at Jodrell Bank that was to become his lasting home and the setting for Treacle Walker We also hear the influences and ideas that have shaped his work his Grandfather Joseph and family of craftsmen the history folklore and ancient landscape of Cheshire a profound