Woeful tidings for fans of mad old Lakeland buffer Alfred
Wainwright - his legendary pocket guidebooks look set to be axed by
their publisher.
The publishers revealed their decision in a letter to local
Cumbrian paper the Westmoreland Gazette, see story.
According to Saturday's
Guardian, just nine of the 49 guides to the Lakeland fells are
still in print and publishers Michael Joseph are quoted as saying
that declining sales 'mean it is hard to justify continuing with
them'.
A Times article
meanwhile refers to AW as 'the prose poet of the Lake District' and
quotes his biographer Hunter Davies as saying that the decision is
'appalling' before branding the publishers 'dopey'. 'It's quite wrong
to say they are not relevant,' he concludes. 'His books are dateless,
beautifully drawn and very witty.'
Wainwright's guides have become something of an institution though
there are those that believe his curiously arcane prose and bizarre
phraseology have exercised a baleful influence over modern British
outdoor writing, with a whole generation of bearded authors muttering
darkly about 'fearful declivities' in curiously anachronistic
constructs.
Others veritably worship the man with the recently formed
Wainwright Society - see
web site - formed in November 2002 existing to celebrate his
life
and works. Rather worryingly they refer to him as 'the master'. Very
Doctor Who.
The Chairman of the Society, broadcaster Eric Robson, is quoted as
saying that he is sure there was a publisher who would 'nurture the
books better than Michael Jospeh did'. Watch this space.
Jon Doran
