Book of the month September 2022

Alex Woodcock - King of Dust

September’s book of the month is here!

This month we have chosen King of Dust by Alex Woodcock, published by Little Toller Books

Alex, a former stone mason, envelops the reader from the very first sentences in his world of stone, of Romanesque carving, of gargoyles and the lost voices of the people who built Britain’s churches. At times lyrically beautiful and at times deeply personal, Alex manages to capture the essence of what makes these buildings an eternal presence in our lives both emotionally and physically. Beginning at Christchurch Priory, Alex’s journey into the masonry of Britain is poetic and nostalgic; a must read for anyone who interested in the monumental carvings that proliferate Britain.

“King of Dust is a craftsman’s journey through the landscapes and ancient sculpture that inspired him to pick up tools. Weaving the author’s own history with the potency of the stonecarvings and stories of their medieval carvers, the book is a meditation on craft, the importance of the handmade, and the transformative power of art in our lives. It explores how stone connects us with others through time and can help us find our place in the world.”