Granny Dalton and the Firebug
By Murray Crawford
Published by Rangitawa Publishing, Feilding.
Reviewed by Paul Brooks
This is a cleverly crafted piece of work - fun to read and a mine of information about early Whanganui.
Although targeted at the younger reader, this reviewer of more mature years had no problem finding immense enjoyment in the book and its story. It starts with a curse of some length and imagination and just gets better.
Ben McCaskey, one of the fictional characters, is a cadet reporter for the Evening Herald and also serves as a volunteer fireman. He meets and befriends a character known by all as Granny Dalton and takes it upon himself to be her protector.
Granny Dalton lived in Whanganui for many years before moving to Masterton where she died in 1903.
She fell on hard times and lived wherever she could, including the "Rookery" on the hill below the crumbling Rutland Stockade, under bridges and anywhere she could. Her dwellings were mostly ramshackle edifices that usually burned down, giving the author a great storyline, especially as there were lots of other fires in town, all within easy distance of wherever Granny was living ... but I won't spoil the story.
The tale is well told and we meet all kinds of early Whanganui inhabitants, from all tiers of society, the author using a variety of media in which to do so. John Ballance is there as proprietor of the Evening Herald and other characters, real and fictional, make their presence felt via court scenes, conversations, meetings in the street and a whole lot more. Early Wanganui had its fair share of personalities from all walks of life and many of them appear in the story, sometimes in a cameo role, often as an important part of the narrative.
Murray has done his research, using many a real event to propel the story, and he employs a lovely turn of phrase throughout, using conversation to tell the town's history and hold the reader's interest.
Granny Dalton and the Firebug is available from Amazon, Wheelers and Rangitawa Publishing in Feilding.
Following the launch it will be also available at Paige's Book Gallery.
The book is being launched this Saturday at 11am in the inner courtyard of the Rutland Arms Inn. Copies are available on the day at discounted price of $25.
A spot prize of one copy of Granny Dalton and the Firebug will be given out at the launch.
Old town comes to life in new book
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