Book Review Hunter Davies Wainwright THE Biography

BOOK REVIEW HUNTER DAVIES WAINWRIGHT THE BIOGRAPHY 1995 Orion Press

An extremely well researched biography of a notoriously private, and reclusive individual, Alfred Wainwright, author of several much loved and hand Illustrated map guides to he British Lake District fells and other footpaths, including the Pennine Way.

Wainwright worked as a tax-accountant, in his hometown of Blackburn, and later in Kendal, in the Lakes.  He was not an easy man to like, grumpy, standoffish, and sometimes sexist.

His first marriage ended bitterly with him being accused of mental cruelty, not allowing his wife’s friends to visit the house when he was present, and giving the proceeds from his increasingly popular books to animal charities without telling his wife that they could have been millionaires. His second marriage was more successful, and he left nothing in his will to his first wife or his son.

It was his love of a good walk, and maps showing places still to visit and paths already walked that captured the public imagination.  In many ways, his books standardized many Lakeland visits, as people follow the Wainwright trails almost to the letter. To Wainwright a walk was a walk. He hated climbing or scrambling up hills and even climbing over stiles. Friends who did so often had to wait for him to walk round the long way to join them. He was not averse to trespassing too, and generally preferred walking alone. Guests on walks were expected to be silent unless spoken to. He also rarely took back packs, preferring to wear the same clothes throughout a walk, even to several days at a time.  He believed in travelling light.

He was given to flashes of humour, hiding a sixpence under a stone on one trail and referring to it in his book to encourage readers to search for it, long after its discovery.  His love of animal charities led to the survival of a key Lake District sanctuary, and he was the founder member of Blackburn Rovers Supporters Club.

Late in life, he was coaxed into making rare TV appearances, increasing the popularity of his books, and Davies, who previous wrote a biography of The Beatles does an amazing job of finding the truth about an extra-ordinary, and unique individual.

Arthur Chappell.