My name is John Smout. I am – LORD HELP ME – a writer of children's books. I have written a few in my time; not few enough, some say. Full of low comedy and foolishness, most of 'em. (Good illustrations, though.) Now, however, as I begin to descend the hill of life, I feel the urge to set down something halfway… sensible. Yes, sir, mature work, that's what I'm aiming for; a little SEARCH for truth.
This book required much toing and froing on the author's part and never would have reached its end (or ends!) without help. Thus, thanks are due to Mrs McFirkin for her unstinting hospitality and free firewood, ‘Grandma Pumfrey' (my saviour with a shotgun) and little Rosalind McFirkin for access to her remarkable diary. The Book of Courage (Edwin Osgood Grover) and The Paradox Box (Redstone Press) jointly supplied many of the quotations used herein. (I like a good quote.) The Collected Poems of Sarah Osgood Grover, sister to Edwin, have been my constant inspiration. To my old mum, MOVER of WARDROBES, I dedicate this book.
J.T. S.
March '04