The Stone Book Quartet
Encyclopedia
The Stone Book Quartet is a collection of stories by Alan Garner
about his family spanning over a century, which was awarded the Phoenix Award
in 1996. These are:
While seemingly in modern English, the language of the book is poetic and draws on the patterns and rhythms of local Cheshire
dialect. Garner's great grandfather was a stonemason, and The Stone Book describes his initiating his daughter into the secrets of his craft high on the steeple of a church he is helping to build. When she asks for a book, he shows her an older writing - his own stonemason's emblem carved in rock deep within Alderley Edge
and dating back countless centuries.
Relative to the internal timeline, the ordering is The Stone Book, Granny Reardun, The Aimer Gate, Tom Fobble's Day.
Alan Garner
With his first book published, Garner abandoned his work as a labourer and gained a job as a freelance television reporter, living a "hand to mouth" lifestyle on a "shoestring" budget...
about his family spanning over a century, which was awarded the Phoenix Award
Phoenix Award
The Phoenix Award is awarded annually to a book originally published in English twenty years previously which did not receive a major award at the time of its publication....
in 1996. These are:
- The Stone BookThe Stone BookThe Stone Book , part of The Stone Book Quartet, a series of children's books by Alan Garner, follows Mary and her father in a time when stone cutting was the main trade. One day she requests a book from her father and he builds her one out of stone as he does not believe books and formal education...
- Tom Fobble's Day
- Granny Reardun
- The Aimer Gate
While seemingly in modern English, the language of the book is poetic and draws on the patterns and rhythms of local Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
dialect. Garner's great grandfather was a stonemason, and The Stone Book describes his initiating his daughter into the secrets of his craft high on the steeple of a church he is helping to build. When she asks for a book, he shows her an older writing - his own stonemason's emblem carved in rock deep within Alderley Edge
Alderley Edge
Alderley Edge is a village and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,409....
and dating back countless centuries.
Relative to the internal timeline, the ordering is The Stone Book, Granny Reardun, The Aimer Gate, Tom Fobble's Day.