In the summer of that year I went in search of the cockatrice. For those not quite up in their fabulous beasts, I should explain that the cockatrice has the head and feet of a cock, but the body and forked tail of a small dragon…
'As Blank As The Days Yet To Be' started as an essay about a piece of folklore, turned into an autobiographical vignette about a visit to a lair of the fabulous beast, and then became a story about an encounter with the quietly singular.
The text by Mark Valentine is illuminated by beautiful images from the photography of Julian Hyde. Design and print is by Full Point Design.
This new booklet published by Voices in a Lane will accompany an exhibition of Julian Hyde’s images at St Oswald’s Church, Grasmere, Cumbria, from 4-7 April 2017. It is limited to 100 copies and is available for £10 including postage in the UK. Enquire for overseas orders.
To order, please contact julian[at]voicesinalane[dot]co[dot]uk
About ten years ago my father downsized his library. Our interests differed; I saved only one book, 'The Reader's Digest book of Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain ' (1973). The Wherwell Cockatrice is on page 187.
ReplyDeleteA fantastic booklet, many thanks to Mark and Julian for the words and pictures respectively.
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