Books & Literary Work | Yorkshire

Kate Shackleton Mystery Books

On June 16, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, By brian

‘Dying in the Wool’ is a mystery for fictional amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton set in a quiet Yorkshire village. Why not a lively, thriving, bustling even noisy Yorkshire village I do not know but that is artistic license for you! At least there is a working mill in this fictional village of Bridgestead, something you don’t see every day nowadays.

Plenty of West Riding social and local history has been used in researching this book and it flows along at a brisk pace.

The author Frances Brody is a pseudonym for Frances McNeil, scriptwriter, playwright, author of four novels and winner of the Elizabeth Elgin Award for best new saga of the millennium. If you have already read Dying in the Wool try another in the Kate Shackleton series.

Tagged with: fiction

The Shepherd Lord Fact or Fiction

On May 31, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Yorkshire History and Heritage, By brian

A Bank holiday read or a book for Fathers Day, this Faction is an interesting cross between fact and fiction. The historical embellishments are entertaining.

Product Description from Amazon
‘Young Henry Clifford, heir to vast estates in the North of England, is spirited away after the Battle of Towton for fear that the Yorkists will take his life in reprisal against his father’s actions. He is brought up as a simple shepherd boy so that his noble background does not betray his true identity. Narrated by the shepherd that raised him until it was safe to reveal his true identity and reclaim his birthright, this is a riveting tale contrasting a life on the run against an idyllic pastoral backdrop. It is a tale of identity, roots and nurture one of an unbreakable and everlasting bond that develops between two people from very different backgrounds. A true story, that has been all but ignored for centuries and is now bursting to be told.’

From the Publisher
The Shepherd Lord is a fascinating, but largely forgotten episode from medieval English history, rummaged from the shadows of two dusty poems and brought back to life. Set in the 15th century, against the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, it is the story of Henry Clifford, the aristocrat who was raised as a shepherd.

This is a work of fiction but set on a firm basis of well-researched historical fact. The important issue in this type of novel is how well the author has rendered the tale as a dramatic adventure. The answer, in this case, is very well indeed. It’s an involving and deeply human story of danger, companionship, high emotions and all the other elements required of a gripping tale.

Fiery Fred Fantastic Raconteur

On May 27, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Yorkshire Folk, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, By brian

Fred Trueman’s last recording talks about cricket and life in the Dales in his own unique style on this Fathers Day CD.

For the first time in a longtime Yorkshire cricket club seem to be ‘framin’ and it would have been interesting to know what Fred would have made of our current exploits.
20 Twenty cricket was played in the local evening leagues for decades, long before it became a money raising venture, and I think FST’s comments about this subject would have been slightly on the caustic side.

My favourite Fred story was, as you may expect, dragged out as a long tale but I will edit it drastically and hope he isn’t able to breath fire down on me.
The scene was an Ashes test with England fielding .. ‘and I went back to my mark and hurtled into the wicket, a rap on the pads, Howzat? One for none. I went back to my mark and hurtled into the wicket and the bails were off, two for none. Then in came the great Sir Don Bradman. I went back to my mark and hurtled into the wicket, the ball was in the air, a fantastic catch on the long on boundary, three for three hundred and seventy six.
Told by a bowler with a stammer you were amused long before the punchline.

Tagged with: characters • sport

Barry Cryer Support for Hernia Chronicles

On March 2, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Wit and Humour, Yorkshire Folk, By brian

Leeds born and educated, up to a point, Barry Cryer’s book now called The Chronicles of Hernia is a newly packaged comedy classic, first published in 1998 under the title ‘You Won’t Believe This But….’ Purchase from Amazon here
‘Still Alive’ is the name of his current touring show and it is worth making special effort to see Barry perform although he excels on valve radio where he is ‘the cats whiskers’.
Barry will be 75 this month and so I have picked out one or two lines with an ageist theme

“Stannah have got a new, faster stairlift. It gets you up the stairs before you’ve forgotten why you went.”

“Right now I’m having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.”

From the new Uxbridge dictioery of alternative meanings for English words Platypus – to give your cat pigtails, Flemish – rather like snot, or Celtic -a prison for fleas.

If I go under a bus I don’t want any displays of loyalty.”

Barry the smoker gave an interview posted on Forces international:
‘There were two guys in the pub and one says, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” And the other one says, “No you won’t. I’ll see you a fortnight tomorrow, I’m going on holiday.” So the first one says, “Oh God, would you bring me back some cigarettes?” The other one says, “Course I will.” So they meet a fortnight later, and the guy’s got a big carton. So the man says, “Thank you very much. How much do I owe you?” And the other guy says, “Seventy-six quid.” The first man says, “Seventy-six quid! Where did you go?” And other guy says, “Bournemouth.” ‘

Tagged with: nostalgia

Lassie the Literary Wonder Dog

On February 27, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Our Yorkshire, By brian

Eric Knight the author and creator of Lassie was born on 10 April 1897, in Menston Yorkshire the son of a Quakers family.

Lassie first appeared in a magazine story published by Evening Post and was subsequently expanded into as novel. Lassie Come-Home appeared in 1940 and was filmed by MGM in 1943 with Roddy McDowall in the role of Joe Carraclough and canine actor Pal in the role of Lassie.
The Plot
‘Set in Depression-era Yorkshire, England, Mr. and Mrs. Carraclough are hit by hard times and forced to sell their collie, Lassie, to the rich Duke of Rudling, who has always admired her. Young Joe Carraclough grows despondent at the loss of his companion. Lassie will have nothing to do with the Duke, however, and finds ways to escape her kennels and return to Joe. The Duke finally carries Lassie to his home hundreds of miles distant in Scotland. There, his granddaughter Priscilla senses the dog’s unhappiness and arranges her escape. Lassie then sets off for a long trek to her Yorkshire home and the boy who loves her. She faces many perils along the way—dog catchers and a violent storm—but also meets kind people who offer her aid and comfort. At the end, when Joe has given up hope of ever seeing his dog again, the weary Lassie returns to her favorite resting place in the schoolyard at home. There, Lassie is joyfully reunited with the boy she loves.’ with acknowledgment to wikipedia

The success of the novel and film generated more films and eventually several television series, cementing Lassie’s icon status. The Son of Lassie, who was inevitably named Laddie, was set as Joe starts RAF training at the start of World War II.

Other Works
His first novel was Song on Your Bugles (1936) about the working class in Northern England.
As “Richard Hallas,” he wrote the hardboiled genre novel “You Play The Black and The Red Comes Up”
“This Above All” is considered one of the significant novels of The Second World War.
Knight’s last published work was “The Flying Yorkshireman” about an otherwise undistinguished man from Yorkshire named Sam Small, whose sojourns are reflected in a series of short stories with ethnocentric and eccentric observations of life around him.

Eric Knight Died at the age of 49 in 1943 in an air crash.

Post Script
Greg Christie the biographer of Eric Knight will give the De Grey lecture at York St Johns University on 20 March 2010 at 3.00 pm. He is also trying to get a blue plaque in Menston in memory of Eric Knight.

Top Ten West Riding Churches

On January 31, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage, By brian

To select but 10 churches for a ‘best of’ list was impossible so I tried to find 10 varying churches in each Riding and this is my effort for the West Riding of Yorkshire. I would be happy to consider for inclusion a readers top ten if you send me details.

St John Baptist Adel is one of our finest Norman churches and is a Grade 1 national treasure and an architectural gem. Internal decoration, chancel arch and carvings are of top quality. Through the church yard is York Gate a garden open for Perennial the gardeners charity
St Cuthbert Fishlake (above) is believed to have safeguarded the remains of Cuthbert from the Vikings. The priest’s doorway is Norman and the south doorway is one of the most decorative in the country.
Hatfield St Lawrence is a large cruciform church with a crossing tower externally perpendicular with some good windows and crenelations . Norman and medieval features include a fine clerstory, monuments and font.
St Mary’s Sprotborough like other churches had its tower heightened in the perpendicular period. Monuments from 13th century onward and an interesting rood screen make this an interesting church to visit.

Shipley St Paul’s (above) is the original 1826 parish church of Shipley. It has dark, soot blackened sandstone walls that befits a church from and set in the industrial West Riding.The building, an historic “Waterloo” or “Commissioners’” church also has a “listed” organ
Birkin St Mary’s is an impressive Norman church with a 14th century south aisle. Due to associations with the Templars there are items of quality in many areas of this fine church.
Halifax St John is the largest 15th century parish church in Yorkshire. Fine 17th century ceilings and communion rail, poor box and box pews are key features.
St Andrew`s Church Aldborough was partially destroyed by Scots raiders in 1318. The present building is the third church to occupy what is thought to be the site of a Roman Temple of Mercury in Roman garrison town of Isurium Brigantium. The north wall dates from around 1330, and carries a brass of William de Aldeburgh dating from around 1360.
Dewsbury All Saints or minster has been rebuilt in 18th & 19th cneturies but many sculptural pieces from the 9th century have ben reincorporated. There is also some stunning stained glass.
St. Mary Tickhill housed Austin friars and has north and south porches. There is also an important church organ from the mid 19th century

The Yorkshire Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne (1825-1874) Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record is available by clicking on the picture below but at a price of £28.50. You may choose to spend the money visiting or donating to the churches mentioned ABOVE.

The medieval review says this book (Editor L.A.S. Butler) has ‘effectively rescued Glynne’s Yorkshire Church Notes from merely describing a frozen moment in time into a valuable resource for those who wish to trace for themselves the 19th-century changes in church architecture’. ‘A major contribution to the study of Yorkshire church architecture at a time of change’. Leeds Civic Trust.

See also Ten Top North Riding churches and Top York churches on Gods Own County.

Tagged with: churches • locations • trips

Haworth no Bronte Publicity II PY

On January 19, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, By brian

When a Haworth based family buy a beautiful vintage Rolls-Royce, little do they know they would get more than they bargained for. Named after the car’s registration II PY this book by a local author is ‘Fast-paced and action-packed, II PY takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the landscapes of Britain and France, where the old world charm of nostalgic rallies and vintage shows collides with a ruthless, audacious underworld of gangland bosses. Part taut thriller, part homage to one of automobile history’s greatest cars, II PY will have you on the edge of your ivory leather seats!’

Defeating the ‘Crims’ time after time the plot is starting to wear thin as it takes the police such a long time to catch on. For a fast read and ‘the thrill of the chase’ this is an enjoyable read and cheap to borrow from the library.

Look out for this registration plate on a car near Haworth. That is where the author and his own car live and until this book is made into a film I guess they won’t be moving to Monte Carlo.

II PY by Edward Evans

These lesser known Haworth authors have had large parts of the county named after them and on that basis need no publicity from this web site.

Art Deco Collecting

On January 14, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes, By brian

Art Deco is back in vogue with new twists or as collectables and memorabilia. Art deco was a design and art style from 1910’s until the 1930s taking over from Art Nouveau. As well as all the visual arts, it encompassed buildings and architecture plus interior design. Some iconic buildings still stand out like Odeon Cinemas the Chrysler Building in New York and the Midland Hotel Morecambe.

Art Deco is eminently collectible in may forms and a bit of know-how from the following books may help you to make sound investments whilst owning a piece of Art Deco art. Normally I would recommend you shop at Redbrick Mill in Batley or the Antique galleries in Harrogate but I am sure you will find your own favourite supplier.

Art Deco Architecture: Design, Decoration and Detail from the Twenties and Thirties by Patricia Bayer

Art Deco Interiors: Decoration and Design Classics of the 1920s and 1930s by Patricia Bayer
By the time of the Paris exhibition of 1925 from which Art Deco took its name, the idea that an interior and its furnishings should form a complete design – a “total look” – dominated the thinking of both designers and their clients

Art Deco Ceramics: in Britain by Andrew Casey Distinctive designers Charlotte Rhead, Clarise Cliff and Susie Cooper three great British potters.

Art Deco Jewellery and Accessories: A New Style for a New World by Cornelie Holzach Look out for the jewellery produced by Jakob Bengel it portrayed incredible creativity and an awareness of the new woman of the 1930s.

Art Deco: The Golden Age of Graphic Art and Illustration by Michael Robinson and Rosalind Ormiston. Posters and film promotion was all the rage and print media rose to the challenge.

Industrial Design Art Deco and British Car Design Barry Down In addition to cars there are many other industrial designs that reflect the era including radios.

Art Deco Textiles by Charlotte Samuels and 133 Art Deco Patterns The most innovative and vibrant periods of textile design, when sophisticated and exotic prints dazzled the world.

Art Deco Fashion by Pepin Press Contains more than 1000 fashion plates including designs from famous 1920′s Art Deco Designers and a CD-ROM with some 30 Art Deco Textile Patterns.

Art Deco Furniture at Midland Hotel

Art Deco The World’s Greatest Art

Tagged with: hobbies • nostalgia

Humour In Yorkshire

On January 2, 2010, In Books & Literary Work, Our Yorkshire, Wit and Humour, By brian

Yorkshire Humour by Ian McMillan (Author), Tony Husband (Illustrator).

Example of the Humour
‘Now Willie you mustn’t be selfish you should let your brother have the sledge half the time’.
‘I do Mum, I have it coming down and he has it going up’.
I dare say Willies brother can have the sledge all through summer as well. This is the sort of humour in the new book which highlights the dry side of Yorkshire folk.

Tony Husband has a string of joke books to his credit but is better known as a gifted cartoonist. In Private Eye his ‘Yobs and Yobettes’ strip satirises Chav culture with a sledge hammer. Ian McMillan is a poet with a string of job titles including Yorkshire Planetarium’s Poet in Space, Poet in residence Barnsley FC and Bard of Barnsley. For the 12 Yorkshire days of Christmas he gave us this :
On the first day of Yorkshire Christmas my true love gave to me
A tinsel muffler to put round me tree
On the second
2 racing pigeons
3 nippy whippets
4 flat caps
5 Dickie Birds
6 Grandmas grumbling
7 Grandads snoring
8 Banghra Dancers
9 parkin makers
10 Bowls full of Yorkshire pudding batter
11. Football teams struggling in the lower divisions
12 Michael Parkinson Blow Up Dolls

The book is well worth a read, have you heard the one about the old men of a Dales village chatting over the death of an old friend. Along comes a newcomer to express his sorrow at the passing of the man.
“It is sad when an old native of the village dies,” says the new resident. “Nay lad, he wasn’t a native, ‘e was a come-er-in-a,” says one of the old men. “’E only lived here 70 year.”

Rylstone Walks, Boulders and Calendars

On December 2, 2009, In Books & Literary Work, Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Trips and Places, By brian

St Peter’s church in Rylstone stands above the village made famous in recent times by the Alternative Womens Institute calendar. As the church and graveyard can testify there has been a vibrant community in the locality for many centuries. The duck pond was looking a bit forlorn when I visited this week but the area is well kept and feels homely.

A quirky look at the village can be observed from several convex mirrors designed to help motorists.

Origins of the Alternative Womens Institute Calendar

John Richard Baker a National Park Officer for the Yorkshire Dales, died in July 1998 at the age of 54 as a result of Leukaemia. His wife Angela Baker and her friends from Rylstone local WI, had the idea of the “Alternative WI calendar” to raise funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma research. This idea provided much mirth and entertainment for her husband throughout the later part of his illness but regrettably he did not live to see the calendar and the great success that followed.

To donate to Leukaemia Research

Barden Moor and Fell with the twin skyline landmarks of Rylstone Cross and Cracoe Pinnacle from the church. The drystone walls were in excellent order and the late afternoon winter light made the whole area glow.
Rylstone ridge near Skipton is one of the most scenic Yorkshire grit crags, with fine views across Barden Moor, Wharfedale and the Malham hills. It is well known amongst boulderers for it’s quiet location. There are several good walks from Rylstone including one that takes you along Rylstone edge to Cracoe or along the railway track that was closed in 1962.

To the south is Norton Tower a 16th Century square tower built by Richard Norton but damage in 1569 and now sadly just a ruin.

There are several good eating places and hostelries in the near by villages and Rylstone is worth a trip if you are feeling like a bit of exercise.

Yorkshire – God’s Own County

A tribute to Yorkshire Heritage