Notes From The Superhorse Stable
Published on 23. May 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
434 pages
978-1-913297-30-5 (ISBN)
Description
Some 'resting' actors write books, some make snow globes; others train their memories. I joined the Ancestry website...
Thus does Francis Taylor explain how he came to know former coal-miner Harold, a distant and virtually absent relative. Beyond a career that began as the lead horse in the play Equus and ended after he was attacked by a pig while making a TV documentary, Francis begins constructing a notated drama of his own into which the animal kingdom strays as if auditioning for parts. But Harold is not a well man.
As soon as Harold and his disturbed partner, Julie, begin visiting Harold, they learn that his cancer may be terminal and that a friend, the formidable Ethel Chrimes, is persuading him to try an unconventional remedy. Francis, in attempting to re-construct a past that includes Harold, finds the present fragmenting as his loyalties become divided, Julie's instability worsens, and Harold further declines.
And then there's the incident at Bug World, a Forest of Dean Tourist attraction...
Some 'resting' actors write books, some make snow globes; others train their memories. I joined the Ancestry website...
Thus does Francis Taylor explain how he came to know former coal-miner Harold, a distant and virtually absent relative. Beyond a career that began as the lead horse in the play Equus and ended after he was attacked by a pig while making a TV documentary, Francis begins constructing a notated drama of his own into which the animal kingdom strays as if auditioning for parts. But Harold is not a well man.
As soon as Harold and his disturbed partner, Julie, begin visiting Harold, they learn that his cancer may be terminal and that a friend, the formidable Ethel Chrimes, is persuading him to try an unconventional remedy. Francis, in attempting to re-construct a past that includes Harold, finds the present fragmenting as his loyalties become divided, Julie's instability worsens, and Harold further declines.
And then there's the incident at Bug World, a Forest of Dean Tourist attraction...
Thus does Francis Taylor explain how he came to know former coal-miner Harold, a distant and virtually absent relative. Beyond a career that began as the lead horse in the play Equus and ended after he was attacked by a pig while making a TV documentary, Francis begins constructing a notated drama of his own into which the animal kingdom strays as if auditioning for parts. But Harold is not a well man.
As soon as Harold and his disturbed partner, Julie, begin visiting Harold, they learn that his cancer may be terminal and that a friend, the formidable Ethel Chrimes, is persuading him to try an unconventional remedy. Francis, in attempting to re-construct a past that includes Harold, finds the present fragmenting as his loyalties become divided, Julie's instability worsens, and Harold further declines.
And then there's the incident at Bug World, a Forest of Dean Tourist attraction...
Some 'resting' actors write books, some make snow globes; others train their memories. I joined the Ancestry website...
Thus does Francis Taylor explain how he came to know former coal-miner Harold, a distant and virtually absent relative. Beyond a career that began as the lead horse in the play Equus and ended after he was attacked by a pig while making a TV documentary, Francis begins constructing a notated drama of his own into which the animal kingdom strays as if auditioning for parts. But Harold is not a well man.
As soon as Harold and his disturbed partner, Julie, begin visiting Harold, they learn that his cancer may be terminal and that a friend, the formidable Ethel Chrimes, is persuading him to try an unconventional remedy. Francis, in attempting to re-construct a past that includes Harold, finds the present fragmenting as his loyalties become divided, Julie's instability worsens, and Harold further declines.
And then there's the incident at Bug World, a Forest of Dean Tourist attraction...
Reviews / Votes
Jarrett's stories take seemingly ordinary or innocent situations and tease out their emotional complexity - Lesley McDowell, The Independent; Stylistically refreshing and with a conscious attempt to do something different, the book rightly claims a unique space among currently published fiction - Hammad Rind, Nation.CymruJarrett's stories take seemingly ordinary or innocent situations and tease out their emotional complexity - Lesley McDowell, The Independent; Stylistically refreshing and with a conscious attempt to do something different, the book rightly claims a unique space among currently published fiction - Hammad Rind, Nation.Cymru
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
586 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-913297-30-5 (9781913297305)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Nigel is a former daily-newspaperman and a double prize-winner: the Rhys Davies Award for short fiction and, in 2016, the inaugural Templar Shorts award. His first story collection, Funderland, published by Parthian, was praised by the Guardian, the Independent, the Times and many others, and was long-listed for the Edge Hill Prize.
His debut poetry collection, Miners At The Quarry Pool, also from Parthian, was described by Agenda poetry magazine as 'a virtuoso performance'. His first novel, Slowly Burning (GG Books) was published in 2016, as was his second story collection, Who Killed Emil Kreisler? (Cultured Llama Publishing).
Last year, Templar published his three-story pamphlet, A Gloucester Trilogy.
Based in Monmouthshire, he also writes for the Wales Arts Review, Arts Scene in Wales, Slightly Foxed, Acumen poetry magazine, and several others. He is a regular contributor to Jazz Journal magazine. His poetry, fiction and essays appear widely. For many years he was a daily newspaper music critic, and now freelances in that capacity. He is represented in the Library of Wales's two-volume anthology of 20th- and 21st-century short fiction.
Nigel is a former daily-newspaperman and a double prize-winner: the Rhys Davies Award for short fiction and, in 2016, the inaugural Templar Shorts award. His first story collection, Funderland, published by Parthian, was praised by the Guardian, the Independent, the Times and many others, and was long-listed for the Edge Hill Prize.
His debut poetry collection, Miners At The Quarry Pool, also from Parthian, was described by Agenda poetry magazine as 'a virtuoso performance'. His first novel, Slowly Burning (GG Books) was published in 2016, as was his second story collection, Who Killed Emil Kreisler? (Cultured Llama Publishing).
Last year, Templar published his three-story pamphlet, A Gloucester Trilogy.
Based in Monmouthshire, he also writes for the Wales Arts Review, Arts Scene in Wales, Slightly Foxed, Acumen poetry magazine, and several others. He is a regular contributor to Jazz Journal magazine. His poetry, fiction and essays appear widely. For many years he was a daily newspaper music critic, and now freelances in that capacity. He is represented in the Library of Wales's two-volume anthology of 20th- and 21st-century short fiction.
His debut poetry collection, Miners At The Quarry Pool, also from Parthian, was described by Agenda poetry magazine as 'a virtuoso performance'. His first novel, Slowly Burning (GG Books) was published in 2016, as was his second story collection, Who Killed Emil Kreisler? (Cultured Llama Publishing).
Last year, Templar published his three-story pamphlet, A Gloucester Trilogy.
Based in Monmouthshire, he also writes for the Wales Arts Review, Arts Scene in Wales, Slightly Foxed, Acumen poetry magazine, and several others. He is a regular contributor to Jazz Journal magazine. His poetry, fiction and essays appear widely. For many years he was a daily newspaper music critic, and now freelances in that capacity. He is represented in the Library of Wales's two-volume anthology of 20th- and 21st-century short fiction.
Nigel is a former daily-newspaperman and a double prize-winner: the Rhys Davies Award for short fiction and, in 2016, the inaugural Templar Shorts award. His first story collection, Funderland, published by Parthian, was praised by the Guardian, the Independent, the Times and many others, and was long-listed for the Edge Hill Prize.
His debut poetry collection, Miners At The Quarry Pool, also from Parthian, was described by Agenda poetry magazine as 'a virtuoso performance'. His first novel, Slowly Burning (GG Books) was published in 2016, as was his second story collection, Who Killed Emil Kreisler? (Cultured Llama Publishing).
Last year, Templar published his three-story pamphlet, A Gloucester Trilogy.
Based in Monmouthshire, he also writes for the Wales Arts Review, Arts Scene in Wales, Slightly Foxed, Acumen poetry magazine, and several others. He is a regular contributor to Jazz Journal magazine. His poetry, fiction and essays appear widely. For many years he was a daily newspaper music critic, and now freelances in that capacity. He is represented in the Library of Wales's two-volume anthology of 20th- and 21st-century short fiction.