The narrative follows Jack, who faced significant challenges after losing his hearing to scarlet fever at 14. Growing up on a farm in Ontario, he struggled to find steady work until a local shop owner encouraged him to become a barber. For over four decades, he practiced his craft in south London, navigating life in a silent world. This biography highlights Jack's resilience, adaptation, and the unique experiences that shaped his identity as a barber and individual in the face of adversity.
Set against the backdrop of the 1930s and 1940s, the narrative reflects on the author's formative years, capturing the stark contrasts between past and present. Through vivid recollections, it explores the societal norms, challenges, and experiences that shaped a generation, offering readers a glimpse into a world that feels both familiar and distant. The memoir provides a poignant commentary on the evolution of life and the enduring impact of history on personal identity.
'After I finished this book I alarmed my family by going into the garden and climbing the apple tree.' - Damian Whitworth, The Times 'One of the publishing sensations of the year ... For anyone who has ever felt a little overwhelmed in a big city, or wanted to step out of the rat race for an hour or two, Jack Cooke will be something of an inspiration.' - Robert Hardman, Daily Mail A wonderful cocktail of engaging writing, beautiful illustration and heartfelt appreciation for the natural world. An essential oddity for any book collection. In this charming, witty and exquisitely illustrated companion, Jack Cooke explores the city through its canopy; teetering on the edge of an oak's branches, scurrying up a Scots pine, spying views from the treetops that few have ever had the chance to see. He takes us through the parks, over the canals and rivers and into secret gardens on his journey sometimes only ten foot above the street. Part guidebook, part meditation on the consolations of nature, The Tree Climber's Guide is as uniquely odd, alluring and motley as the trees themselves. It is a journey into the tangle of bark and branches that surround us all and a welcome reminder that the best things in life are free - they just sometimes require a step in the right direction.
A wonderfully quixotic, charming and surprisingly uplifting travelogue which
sees Jack Cooke, author of the much-loved The Treeclimbers Guide, drive around
the British Isles in a clapped-out forty-year old hearse in search of famous -
and not so famous - tombs, graves and burial sites.
