I'm reading another Laurie Lee book: Village Christmas And Other Notes On The English Year on Kindle on my phone on the ferry at the moment. I love short pieces, short stories and essays are almost like paper monologue blogs. His village childhood Christmas reminisces are magical and so un materialistic like the world we live today.
Another essay in the book is The Fight To Save Slad. He mentions the Slad Valley which was the idyllic rural setting for Cider With Rosie. He talks about rural private housing developments and when developers wanted to chop down twelve ancient trees to make way for a new Tesco supermarket in Stroud. Many people protested and climbed up into the trees. He himself penned a joke verse:
" I think that I shall never see
Tesco lovely as a tree
And if we are forced to cut ours down
"Twill shame the gateway to our town".
The trees were saved and it proves that the word can be mightier than the axe so to speak. The trees didn't know what was going on apart people climbing in their mighty arm like branches but thankfully they are still there.
I seem to be having problems commenting today. Hope this one gets through!
ReplyDeleteI think I need to look up that book and read it as it is one I have missed out on. Thanks for the recommendation.
No worries JayCee. Thanks for your comment. It's only 2 or 3 dollars/Pounds/Euros on Kindle. I am going to read Cider With Rosie, again for my next read.
ReplyDeleteThere is a tradition of short essay writing that carries forward into blogs today. Just imagine how fantastic a blog Laurie Lee would have written.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Mark. Imagine if Charles Dickens wrote a blo
DeleteCharles Dickens wrote - and publicly read - his books a bit at a time. Maybe it was the fore-runner of a blog!
DeleteYes probably Tigger. He use to walk 25 miles a day and no doubt met all his interesting book characters like Fagin on his saunters. Thanks.
DeleteI have never heard of this book. It sounds like an excellent read. I have kindle so will go and download it now. Thank you Dave
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy it Linda.
DeleteI cannot wait to dive into my book!
ReplyDeleteIts great when you are excited to read a new book Debby.
ReplyDeleteHungry corporate businesses like Tesco only have one thing in mind - profit. Their appetites are voracious and they usually get what they want. Laurie Lee's writing is very comfortable and comforting to read. It's good that you are digging in to his work.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about corporate businesses YP. I find Laurie Lee a great observer, poet and very interesting person.
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