These memoirs of the great fellwalker Alfred Wainwright, author of the Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells and many other volumes of walking guides and sketchbooks, are full of his thoughts on life and on his experiences on the fells. Wainwright writes about his boyhood in Blackburn, his work and interests as a young man, and the visit to the Lake District at the age of 23 which kindled in him a lasting passion for the fells. He reveals how he set about researching and compiling the Pictorial Guides, the labour of love which occupied so many years of his life. For walkers and other lovers of the Lakeland fells, this is a great read.
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About the Author
Born in Blackburn in 1907, Alfred Wainwright left school at the age of 13. A holiday at the age of 23 kindled a life-long love affair with the Lake District. Following a move to Kendal in 1941 he began to devote every spare moment he had to researching and compiling the original seven Pictorial Guides. He described these as his 'love letters' to the Lakeland Fells and at the end of the first, The Eastern Fells, he wrote about what the mountains had come to mean to him:
"I suppose it might be said, to add impressiveness to the whole thing, that this book has been twenty years in the making, for it is so long, and more, since I first came from a smoky mill-town (forgive me, Blackburn!) and beheld, from Orrest Head, a scene of great beauty, a fascinating paradise, Lakeland's mountains and trees and water. That was the first time I had looked upon beauty, or imagined it, even.
Afterwards I went often, whenever I could, and always my eyes were lifted to the hills. I was to find then, and it has been so ever since, a spiritual and physical satisfaction in climbing mountains – and a tranquil mind upon reaching their summits, as though I had escaped from the disappointments and unkindnesses of life and emerged above them into a new world, a better world.
In due course I came to live within sight of the hills, and I was well content. If I could not be climbing, I was happy to sit idly and dream of them, serenely. Then came a restlessness and the feeling that it was not enough to take their gifts and do nothing in return. I must dedicate something of myself, the best part of me, to them. I started to write about them, and to draw pictures of them. Doing these things, I found they were still giving and I still receiving, for a great pleasure filled me when I was so engaged – I had found a new way of escape to them and from all else less worth while.
Thus it comes about that I have written this book. Not for material gain, welcome though that would be (you see I have not escaped entirely!); not for the benefit of my contemporaries, though if it brings them also to the hills I shall be well pleased; certainly not for posterity, about which I can work up no enthusiasm at all. No, this book has been written, carefully and with infinite patience, for my own pleasure and because it has seemed to bring the hills to my own fireside. If it has merit, it is because the hills have merit."
A. Wainwright died in 1991 at the age of 84.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Michael F. Freer
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really like this book, which is about as autobiographical as you get with Wainwright. Littered with pictures and his drawings, it is a shear delight. Wainwright had old fashioned high principled ideas and clearly was a thoughtful and intelligent man who led an organised life. In many ways he was a good example for others in how to live life and achieve your objectives. On the other hand he was intolerant of those who, in his opinion, broke society's rules and should be brutally punished. He may well have a point but that is for each individual to judge.
Well written and comfortable to read, I found it difficult to put the book down. However, I did break it down into sections as I found more out about AW and took breaks to consider what I had read.
His philosophy of fell walking would be alien to some. He promotes the benefits of walking alone and NOT telling others where you are going. That might upset some people on safety grounds but he explains his case well.
The book is a sensible amalgam of two earlier works - Fellwanderer (1966) and Ex-Fellwanderer (1987) - covering both ends of his long fell walking 'career'.
This is a 'must have' book for his followers.
Well written and comfortable to read, I found it difficult to put the book down. However, I did break it down into sections as I found more out about AW and took breaks to consider what I had read.
His philosophy of fell walking would be alien to some. He promotes the benefits of walking alone and NOT telling others where you are going. That might upset some people on safety grounds but he explains his case well.
The book is a sensible amalgam of two earlier works - Fellwanderer (1966) and Ex-Fellwanderer (1987) - covering both ends of his long fell walking 'career'.
This is a 'must have' book for his followers.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By V. Bates
Format:Paperback
A lovely book. The essence of Wainwright and his deep love of his beloved Lakes and Fells runs strongly throughout.
By Em Jay
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A.W. was my reason for Rambling in the Peaks Lake District. I read about him many years ago, and it was his Books that started me off walking. Yes I know he was a loner and preferred to be on his own when out waking, but it was his books that many thousands of us who love the Countryside have a lot to be thankful for. This is one of many books I have enjoyed reading.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Better late then never :-)
I bought this book several weeks ago but I stil haven't received the item.
Hope it will arrive someday but I have my doubts... Read more
Hope it will arrive someday but I have my doubts... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jan Verbeek
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice
This book is thicker than I expected. Bought as a present. I guess anyone who likes fell walking would be/should be interested in Wainwright. Read more
Published 5 months ago by F. Fisher
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another one for (some) Wainwright fans
I have to disagree with the first reviewer who says this is a must for Wainwright fans - not if they already have 'Fellwanderer' and 'Ex-Fellwanderer', it's not! Read more
Published 7 months ago by S Edmondson
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