{"product_id":"powsels-and-thrums-tales-from-a-creative-life-9781668094808","title":"Powsels and Thrums: Tales from a Creative Life","description":"\u003cb\u003eA lyrical memoir of essays and poems from the Booker shortlisted author of \u003ci\u003eTreacle Walker\u003c\/i\u003e--a profound reflection on the creative journey and the influences that have shaped one of Britain's most beloved writers.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCritics praise Alan Garner, calling him \"better than anyone else writing in English today\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, London) and \u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e describes his world as \"unbearably beautiful and dangerous.\" His new memoir in essays captures the essence of a lifetime devoted to storytelling--the title a nod to his great-grandfather's trade of handloom weaving, and the snippets of cloth (\"powsels and thrums\") that weavers kept for themselves, to be turned into something bigger than its parts. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrough essays, poetry, and stories, Garner takes readers on a captivating journey, tracing his life from a working-class childhood during World War II to the esteemed halls of Oxford University, returning to the beloved landscapes of Cheshire that fuel his creativity. Along the way, he encounters serendipitous moments such as an unexpected meeting with a renowned mathematician during a long-distance run--each event adding a unique thread to the rich tapestry of his life. Of particular significance is Blackden, a medieval hall nestled beside the giant telescope at Jodrell Bank, which became his home and the backdrop for his Booker-nominated novel, \u003ci\u003eTreacle Walker\u003c\/i\u003e. Garner explores the influences that have shaped his work, from his grandfather's craftsmanship to the folklore from the place where his family has lived for generations, reflecting on an extraordinary lifetime of writing. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCharming and revelatory, \u003ci\u003ePowsels and Thrums\u003c\/i\u003e offers inspiration and insight to readers and writers alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Scribner Book Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/04\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781668094808\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.70lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.38h x 5.50w x 0.51d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2025 pg. 77\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/08\/2025\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Alan Garner","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51708037562549,"sku":"9781668094808","price":22.1,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_5a6af5bb-ba04-49c7-8c2e-a6a8696fd5b7.jpg?v=1757397160","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/powsels-and-thrums-tales-from-a-creative-life-9781668094808","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}