An Extraordinary Charge Against A Clergyman

Subtitled a Biography of The Reverend Edward Muckleston M.A. (1819-1913), the book recounts the life story of a rogueish reverend. This is a biography that has been carefully researched by trawling the archives, and penned following tutelage on Gill Blanchard’s writing course. From page 1, with the helpful glossary (Did you know the meaning of ‘Advowson’? you will on reading the book), it very much feels as though it’s a biography written by a family historian for fellow family historians: the attention to detail, the fine-tuned investigation, the quest to research and tell a story worth keeping are all aspects that family history enthusiasts will appreciate. Newspaper reports, together with his numerous court appearances, provide a plentiful supply of information about this colourful, if rather shameless, character. I particularly enjoyed the historical context snippets woven through the pages.

• Published by the Book Guild in paperback, RRP £9.99) www.bookguild.co.uk ISBN: 97811913551070 HT