Most Popular Books by Alan Garner

From the author of the Booker Prize-longlisted Treacle Walker and the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children''s Fiction Prize-winning classic, The Owl Service An urban fantasy, runner up for the Carnegie Medal on its original publication On a gloomy day in Manchester, Roland, Helen, Nicholas and David are lured into a ruined church, where the fabric of time and place is weak enough to allow them into the twilight world of Elidor. It is a place almost destroyed by fear and darkness, and the children are charged with guarding its Treasures while a way is sought to save the dying land. Then the evil forces find a path through to this world...

Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize An extraordinary, “playful, moving, and wholly remarkable” (The Guardian) coming-of-age novel filled with myth and magic from one of England''s greatest living writers. An introspective young boy, Joseph Coppock is trying to make sense of the world. Living alone in an old house, he spends his time reading comic books, collecting birds’ eggs, and playing with marbles. When one day a rag-and-bone man called Treacle Walker appears on a horse and cart, offering a cure-all medicine, a mysterious friendship develops and the young boy is introduced to a world beyond his wildest imagination. Luminous, evocative, and sparely told, Treacle Walker is a stunning fusion of myth, folklore, and the stories we tell ourselves.

A captivating novel by the author of the 2022 Booker Prize-longlisted Treacle Walker Based on a true story, Strandloper tells the extraordinary tale of a nineteenth-century Englishman, William Buckley, who was convicted and transported to Australia. Refusing to accept his fate he escaped and lived among the Aborigines for thirty years. In this visionary novel, Alan Garner is as true to William the Cheshire bricklayer and William the Aboriginal spiritual leader, as William is true to his fate. The result is extraordinary. ''A remarkable feat of literary imagination'' Sunday Times

Three young men from three different time periods influence each other''s destiny with the help of a stone axe.

A lyrical memoir of essays and poems from the Booker shortlisted author of Treacle Walker—a profound reflection on the creative journey and the influences that have shaped one of Britain’s most beloved writers. Critics praise Alan Garner, calling him “better than anyone else writing in English today” (The Times, London) and The Guardian describes his world as “unbearably beautiful and dangerous.” His new memoir in essays captures the essence of a lifetime devoted to storytelling—the title a nod to his great-grandfather’s trade of handloom weaving, and the snippets of cloth (“powsels and thrums”) that weavers kept for themselves, to be turned into something bigger than its parts. Through essays, poetry, and stories, Garner takes readers on a captivating journey, tracing his life from a working-class childhood during World War II to the esteemed halls of Oxford University, returning to the beloved landscapes of Cheshire that fuel his creativity. Along the way, he encounters serendipitous moments such as an unexpected meeting with a renowned mathematician during a long-distance run—each event adding a unique thread to the rich tapestry of his life. Of particular significance is Blackden, a medieval hall nestled beside the giant telescope at Jodrell Bank, which became his home and the backdrop for his Booker-nominated novel, Treacle Walker. Garner explores the influences that have shaped his work, from his grandfather’s craftsmanship to the folklore from the place where his family has lived for generations, reflecting on an extraordinary lifetime of writing. Charming and revelatory, Powsels and Thrums offers inspiration and insight to readers and writers alike.

It is the Eve of Gomrath the night of the year when the Old Magic is aroused. Had Colin and Susan known this, they would never have lighted a fire on the Beacon, thereby releasing the uncontrollable ferocity of the Wild Hunt. Soon they are inextricably caught up in the struggle between their friend, the Wizard Cadellin, and the evil Morrigan.

From the author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Treacle Walker The much-loved classic, finally in ebook. Winner of both the Guardian Award and the Carnegie Medal, this is an all-time classic, combining mystery, adventure, history and a complex set of human relationships.

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Adult Children of Alcoholics -- a wonderful book that affirms and encourages AcoAs by developing skills for living. Imagine how good you would feel if · You could stand up for yourself without losing your temper · You could make a decision without second guessing yourself · You didn''t have that sense of worthlessness every time someone criticized you · You could learn how to say no and stick with it In Lifeskills for Adult Children you can learn how to do these things and more. This book is designed specifically for Adult Children and teaches skills to make your complex adult life easier, while improving your sense of self-worth. Examples are provided to help clarify the lessons and exercises are given to help you practice your new skills. So, if you have difficulty · Asking for what you want · Solving problems · Handling criticism · Saying no read Lifeskills for Adult Children - you''ll be glad you did.

A classic work of rural magic realism from one of Britain’s greatest children’s novelists.

From the author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Treacle Walker and the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize-winning classic, The Owl Service The much-loved classic, finally in ebook. First published over 50 years ago, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen is one of the greatest fantasy novels of all time.

An exploration, through fiction, of a C18 mystery that lives on in the valley of Thursbitch. John Turner, a packman, died in a storm in 1755, and was found with a woman''s footprint in the snow beside him. His death leaves an emotional charge that Ian and Sal find affects their own relationship.

From the author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Treacle Walker and the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize-winning classic, The Owl Service The definitive collection of traditional British folk tales, selected and retold by the renowned Alan Garner.

From the author of the Booker Prize-shortlisted Treacle Walker and the Carnegie Medal and Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize-winning classic, The Owl Service Roland, Helen, Nicholas and David, four Manchester children, are led into Elidor, a twilight world almost destroyed by fear and darkness.

This concluding volume of the ''Weirdstone trilogy'' features Professor Colin Whisterfield who spends his days at Jodrell Bank, using the radio telescope to look for his lost sister in the Pleiades. At the same time, and in another time, the Watcher cuts the rock and dances, to keep the sky above the earth and the stars flying.

In this collection of lectures and essays, Allan Garner shows how, over the years, his thinking and writing have developed. They also demonstrate the wide range of his concerns and his scholarship: language, literature, education, mental health, anthropology, archaeology, myth, the spiritual quest, philosophy, music and film.

A collection of twenty-one traditional tales from the British Isles.

More than a million people have learned the secrets of effective conversation using "Conversationally Speaking." This revised edition provides more ways to improve conversational skills by asking questions that promote conversation, learning how to listen so that others will be encouraged to talk, reducing anxiety in social situations and more.

Learn the secrets of effective communication from the most popular book in the world for teaching conversation skills – almost one million copies sold! Fully updated for the 2020s, Conversationally Speaking provides proven communication strategies, based on hundreds of research studies, as well as the authors'' own experience teaching conversation workshops. Now you can use this expertise to get more out of your everyday interactions with family, friends, and coworkers. Everybody thinks that some people are born with the "gift of gab" and some people aren''t. But the truth is there is no "gift of gab." People who are good at conversation just know a few simple skills that anyone can learn. This book will teach you those skills. With Conversationally Speaking, you will learn how to: Ask the kind of questions that promote conversation Interest people in what you have to say Achieve deeper levels of understanding and intimacy Handle criticism constructively Overcome shyness and become more confident Listen so others will be encouraged to talk to you Find out why Toastmaster Magazine calls Conversationally Speaking "the classic how-to book in social communication" and why Dr. Aaron Beck, whose work has had a major influence on thousands of psychologists, calls it "of great value for people who want to sharpen their skills in interpersonal relations."