The Best of Wainwright by Alfred Wainwright

by Hunter Davis

A lively and personal selection, by Hunter Davies, of eighteen fells from the legendary A. Wainwright's unique Pictorial Guides. This fascinating and intensely readable account of the man and his work is now accompanied by more than three hundred pages from the second edition of the Pictorial Guides, brilliantly revised by Chris Jesty. This is the perfect introduction to the life and works of an ideal book for a first-time visitor or walker, and a great armchair read.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Walking, Reference, British Literature

Hardcover

First published February 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me be clear... I have 'issues' with the Lake District and have had since I was five years old. Give me the Peak District any day (not least because the 'peaks' are not generally real peaks) Realistically, I am probably stuck down nearer the honeypots rather than high on the majestic fells. Yet this selection by Hunter Davies from Alfred Wainwright's iconic Pictorial Guides to the Fells captivated me.

I've always found the idea of the Pictorial Guides attractive, with all the ingredients of a volume that feels good in the hand, and this collection seems to be a great introduction to Wainwright's work - fittingly as it has been made by fellow Lakeland resident and Wainwright biographer Hunter Davies. Davies sets the works in context and whets your appetite for each successive fell selection. You are then free to enjoy the format - the description of each location, the ascent routes, the summit, the ridge routes, the views and the all important descents all lovingly drawn and annotated with a dry, mischievous humour I had not expected.

I still felt really, really uncomfortable reading about Helvellyn though!