Just over five years ago, the very first article appeared on
Footless Crow. David Craig’s previously unpublished piece ‘Falling About-Not
Laughing’. Frankly, back then the hit counter was not exactly off the Richter
scale, and for that reason I intend to
re-edit and republish the best of these articles which are well worth
revisiting or catching for the first time if you are new to these pastures.
In the last five years I am eternally grateful to have
received the support of many of the UK’s finest outdoor writers who have either
given permission for their articles to be republished or offered unpublished
works. This includes writers of the stature of the aforementioned David Craig,
Harold Drasdo, Terry Gifford, Robin Campbell, Bill Birkett, Steve Dean, Steve Ashton, Harry Griffin and
Tom Price amongst many others.
The top ten most popular articles list however, is somewhat surprising in the fact that none of these
esteemed writers feature. It is with some mild embarrassment that my own name
features quite prominently in the list which is also dominated by John Redhead.
Another interesting element is the fact that in a media dominated by mountain
writing, it is the occasional art features that are proving very popular. A fact that makes me consider
increasing these features in the future. Book and film reviews always ratchet
up the hit count as well so hopefully I’ll be able to offer even more reviews
in the future. I was also hoping to offer the odd gear review but as yet I
haven’t pursued this idea so watch this space. If anyone out there has
something they would like to see published online then just let me know via the
email address further down the page.
So....(drum roll)...Footless Crow’s Top Ten Greatest Hits.
An article rejected by Climb magazine which resulted in some
heated emails between the author and the magazine’s joint editor Dave Pickford.
Something which was shamelessly exploited by myself in a blog piece and picked
up by the UKC forum fraternity. The resultant brouhaha sent the stats counter
soaring! (Previously unpublished)
An article which was originally to be published in Climber
magazine when I think Cameron MacNeish was editor. A change in editor saw the
article kicked into the long grass. Essentially the feature surrounds
Crowley’s ill fated Kangenjunga expedition and its popularity is obviously down
to the world wide interest in all things Crowley.( Previously Unpublished)
Liverpool based
retired academic’s art piece on the visionary artist’s Cornish period. (First
published on the author’s superb ‘That’s How the Light Gets In’ blog)
Written to coincide with the BBC4 documentary ‘The Mountain
that had to be painted’. The short life and times of the brilliant but
relatively unknown Welsh artist, James Dickson Innes who will forever be
associated with the ‘sacred mountain’ of Arenig Fawr in NE Wales.(Previously
unpublished)
5..Fay Godwin..poetry through a lens (Margaret Drabble)
The acclaimed writers appraisal of the sublime photography of the late Fay Godwin. (Previously published in The Guardian)
The acclaimed writers appraisal of the sublime photography of the late Fay Godwin. (Previously published in The Guardian)
James McHaffie and Craig Smith respond to John Redhead’s ‘XS’
piece Fantasy stylee! (Previously unpublished)
A warts and all account
of the life and times of the curmudgeonly fell-walker. Beatified and vilified
in equal measure in the outdoor
community.(Previously unpublished)
8..Jim Perrin’s West: The loping hare kicking rainbows fromthe dew (John Appleby)
An almost hagiographic review of West which ironically acted
as a catalyst for an incendiary blog-Jaccsisters blog- in which the sisters of
one of the main characters take issue with the veracity of Perrin’s interpretation
of his relationship with their sister. The intervening years since the review
was written, has certainly seen this former climbing literary hero of mine fall
from grace as more and more people have come forward to describe their own
personal ‘Perringrinations’ around the eccentric author.( Previously
unpublished)
8..Jim Perrin’s West: The loping hare kicking rainbows fromthe dew (John Appleby)
An almost hagiographic review of West which ironically acted
as a catalyst for an incendiary blog-Jaccsisters blog- in which the sisters of
one of the main characters take issue with the veracity of Perrin’s interpretation
of his relationship with their sister. The intervening years since the review
was written, has certainly seen this former climbing literary hero of mine fall
from grace as more and more people have come forward to describe their own
personal ‘Perringrinations’ around the eccentric author.( Previously
unpublished)
Both being extracts from the author’s latest book ‘Colonists
Out’
So there you have it. A strange list given the stature of writers and the quality of articles which have fallen outside of the top ten. Perhaps as some of these old articles are revamped with new illustrations, they will finally pull in the readership they deserve? In the mean time....thanks for tuning in.
John Appleby:2014
