The Magic Spring

Description

Starting with the conviction that England must have a folklore as compelling as that of other more romantic places, like Ireland or Morocco, Richard Lewis embarks on a search for English tradition. From the Morris-dancers of the Cotswolds to a magic circle of witches deep beneath the Forest of Dean, Lewis plunges into the nation's rituals to tell a story that is at once personal, historical and universal.

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.

"'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"