The Magic Spring

The Magic Spring

by RichardLewis (Author)

Synopsis

City-dweller Richard Lewis has been having a problem with roots. His, he means. It would have been so much more romantic if he had been born in Dublin or Marseille. But what if you're simply from Croydon? What hope for romance then? Starting with the conviction that England must have a folklore as compelling, as exotic and as beautiful as that of other places, Lewis embarks on a search for traditional roots that takes him well off the beaten track, from the humble folk clubs of the fenlands, across the Yorkshire moors via the Morris-dancing Cotswolds to a magic circle of druids deep beneath the Forest of Dean.

The Magic Spring seeks to not only dispel some myths about English traditions, but to tell the story of their creation, to examine why they persist and how they connect to the modern land. Lewis follows the changing seasons, digs into his own past and discovers not only a deep affinity with his country, but also, in a climax on the Isle of Avalon, that roots are less about where you're from than he thought.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Edition: Main
Publisher: Atlantic Books
Published: 01 May 2006

ISBN 10: 1843543087
ISBN 13: 9781843543084

Media Reviews
'A wonderful book... Richard Lewis taps into the joy and celebration that accompanies those who choose to dress up at the weekend to dance with baldric and bladder, hankie and sword.' Billy Bragg Nice reviews on hardback publication: 'Wonderfully light-hearted... The author discusses English folk in a very intelligent and thoughtful way... Quintessentially English, in fact.' Jah Wobble, Independent on Sunday 'Engaging... Lewis conveys the quirkiness and the innocence with gusto' Tom Fort, Sunday Telegraph 'A quirkily subjective and gently whimsical ramble through the English countryside. Despite the book's comic tone, he avoids mocking or patronising his subjects - quite an achievement' Helen Gordon, New Statesman
Author Bio
Richard Lewis was born in 1971 in Croydon. He was educated at the University of Warwick and was a business journalist for the Bookseller magazine. He is the author of The Bumper Book of Fads and Crazes (Atlantic Books 2005), The Magic Spring (Atlantic Books 2006) and the bestselling Encyclopaedia of Cult Children's TV. As a musician he has written for film, theatre, dance and poetry. He lives in France.