In 1087, Thomas the Piper sits down to recount the heartwarming, spell-binding hundred-year history of how his family of story-weaver and serfs has got by, against the odds. His young scribe - lovestruck and distracted - writes it all down. Several generations of this West Country family, from the reign of King Edgar to the Battle of Hastings, are linked by one recurring theme: the gift of storytelling, first found in Tom, the bard of King Edgar's court, whose love for Fleda saves her life and creates a legend in their son Bas, who gains a ferocious reputation as a warrior fighting the armies of King Cnut. Bas's son Harry, a storyteller like his aunt, passes the gift on to his own son Thomas, who is forced to make use of the first of three wishes endowed upon the wishing penny given to his grandfather by King Edgar. But will it save his family?
'Unique, fascinating and compulsively readable.' Alan Sillitoe
Surging, powerful, exceptionally well written.' Kevin Crossley-Holland
A remarkable, powerful and hugely enjoyable novel.' The Historical Novels Review
'Surging, powerful and highly readable. It's ambitious, often witty, earthy and even meaty, rich in detail. Above all, I'd say, Stephen Edden has a fine ear for the cadences of speech. The whole book is exceptionally well-written.' --Kevin-Crossley Holland, author of The Seeing Stone and translator of Beowulf
The Wordsmith's Tale... is about the origins of our collective imagination. It's an eccentric and highly entertaining history lesson, and also a compelling attempt to show the crucible of the British collective unconscious; the origins of stories that have lasted more than 1000 years. -- The Times
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Vendeur : ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, Etats-Unis
Hardcover. Etat : Good. No Jacket. None (illustrateur). SIGNED by the author. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Wear commensurate with age and use. Clean unmarked copy. Dust jacket wrapped in protective mylar sleeve. Secure packaging for safe delivery. signed by author. N° de réf. du vendeur 1038733834
Quantité disponible : 1 disponible(s)
Vendeur : Fantastic Literature Limited, Rayleigh, ESSEX, Royaume-Uni
Hardcover. None (illustrateur). fine hardcover copy in a fine dustwrapper, 1st edition. SIGNED dated. A brilliant evocation of Anglo-Saxon life from 987-1087AD, dictated by Thomas the Piper to his nephew, Aart, in a monastery in Exeter. N° de réf. du vendeur FB26.045
Quantité disponible : 1 disponible(s)
Vendeur : Cross Genre Books, WEST LINN, OR, Etats-Unis
Hardcover. Etat : Near Fine. Etat de la jaquette : Near Fine. None (illustrateur). 1st Edition. Signed by Author(s). The dust jacket is unclipped (?15.99). 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 number line. Signed and dated "26.06.11" by the author on the title page. N° de réf. du vendeur 004045
Quantité disponible : 1 disponible(s)
Vendeur : Kelleher Rare Books, Naas, IE, Irlande
Hardcover. Etat : New. Etat de la jaquette : New. None (illustrateur). 1st Edition. First UK Edition, First Printing. This true first edition, first printing (first impression) with the number "1" to the copyright page to indicate a true first print. One of only 200 hardcover copies produced. Signed and Dated to the title page by the author Stephen Edden [Stephen Edden 16.06.11]. Signed by Author(s). N° de réf. du vendeur 003081
Quantité disponible : 1 disponible(s)
Vendeur : Long Acre Books, Stevenage, Royaume-Uni
Hardcover. Etat : New. Etat de la jaquette : New. None (illustrateur). 1st Edition. A VERY NICE CLEAN AND TIGHT FIRST EDITION FIRST PRINT OF STEPHEN EDDEN'S VERY VERY RARE NOVEL THE WORDSMITH'S TALE WHICH STEPHEN SIGNED AND DATED ON THE TITLE PAGE. THIS IS A VERY LIMITED EDITION OF ONLY 200 COPIES AND IS VERY SORT AFTER. BOOK IS IN A PROTECTIVE CLEAR ACETATE COVER, ALL BOOKS DESPATCHED WRAPPED IN BUBBLE WRAP AND A CARDBOARD BOX. Signed by Author(s). N° de réf. du vendeur 000172
Quantité disponible : 1 disponible(s)