Sadly, I latched on to A.Harry Griffin in the evening of his life.  That wasn't really my fault, I wasn't even alive for twenty years of his writing exploits in the then, Manchester Guardian.  However, if like me you are either too young or just unaware of this man's writing then now is the time to make your self acquainted.  If like me, you are sometimes too busy to pick up a book and read it from cover to cover, then this book is a fabulous insight into the rural happenings through the eyes of a man more tuned in to the countryside than many.    The book, 'A Lifetime of Mountains' is instantly accessible and Martin Wainwright has edited together some of the finer pieces by AHG.

To be honest, I didn't read this book in one stretch and revisited it when I wanted to turn my thoughts to things less intense in my life.  I really did find it an escape and some of the extracts from those 53 years of Country Diary are truly memorable.  Who for instance can really make their back lawn sound interesting, but AHG did!

I can heartily recommend this book, perhaps not to read in one go, but to have there kicking around your table to dip in and out of when the pleasure takes you.  With a forward by Christian Bonington and chapter introductions that investigate the man himself, then this book is definitely worth a read

A. Harry Griffin was second only to Alistair Cooke's 'Letter from America' in terms of longevity in Britain's national media.  This fact alone should make you go out and seek this excellent piece pf mountain literature.

'A Lifetime of Mountains - The Best of A. Harry Griffin's Country Diary' is available from Aurum Press, 198 pages, £12.99.  ISBN 1 84513 112 6

BAA Rating:  [4 / 5] 

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