Product Description

Fans of Maynard will be delighted to read his further adventures in bacon curing. The last of the traditionally-apprenticed bacon curers, the author regales and inspires his readers with tales of visits from the health inspectors his colourful customers and work colleagues his tips on curing, smoking and selling the burglaries, bungled deals and triumphs his growing reputation in the field travels to learn how to make parma ham and much more. This book is the same addictive concoction of humour, tragedy and plain common sense, told in Maynard's disarmingly frank manner.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51325 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-29
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

Review
There are many setbacks and it paints an honest and occasionally harsh picture of real life in the countryside - thieves, criminal gypsies, grasping contractors, fraudulent clines et al. But it also offers a heart-warming account of Davies s vocation: to keep alive the rich tradition of English bacon. A hidden gem. --The Oldie

Synopsis
Presents the story of Maynard Davies, the last of the apprentice bacon curers.

From the Publisher
Maynard's manuscript sat on my desk for several weeks before I got round to the task of, as I thought, rejecting it. It looked like an ape's breakfast and I felt sure it would never make any money. But I was touched at the thought of a now-elderly bacon curing apprenctice and his life story, and felt that out of courtesy, I would read a couple of chapters in order to write a fair rejection letter. I took it home with me that night. By 3am I was still reading. Yes, it was a tale simply told, yes, it would take so much editing that the profit margin would be totally eroded. But by dawn I had finished a straight read-through and I was hooked. I loved Maynard, I loved his approach to life and I loved his approach to food. My next difficult task was persuading my long-suffering colleagues that we should throw time and effort toward his fringe project. We publish country books, but not like Maynards! But in the end, everyone was won round - and we have never looked!
back. Maynard is totally dyslexic - so much so that even writing his own name doesn't come easily, and he doesn't hide that fact. He had dictated the entire manuscript to his long-suffering wife Ann and as any editor will tell you, the spoken word is entirely different to the written word. But, although I have never had to cover a manuscript with so much red ink in all my career, I had no difficulty in keeping that strong, prevailing voice of Maynard coming through - his distinctive turn of phrase, his quirky sentences - I left them all in. In many instances, no one could put things better than Maynard. The honesty shines through: the triumphs and failures are seen and described by Maynard alone. I have learned a lot through him. And so, happily, have many other readers. We are a medium-sized company, but I think the majority of all the fan mail we get is for Maynard. It often runs along the lines: 'I hardly ever read books but I have just finished Maynard, the Adventures of a Bacon Curer and I loved it. I can't wait to hear what happens next. I am a great fan and can relate to all the things he has said....' The good news is that Maynard is currently writing the sequel to his life story in bacon - and it looks as promising as the first book - which I am happy to say is now in its THIRD printing. I knew I thought it was special, but it is so gratifying to find that other people agree too. Karen McCall, Merlin Unwin Books

Customer Reviews

More stories, few recipes
I am a great fan of Maynard and love his stories but I was quite disappointed by this book. I was really hoping to read more about bacon curing, instead all I got more stories and anecdotes. Although charming and engaging, if you want to learn more about bacon curing you would be better off waiting for his next book which I gather will be a detailed guide to the art bacon curing.

Pass the salt please
A warm, heartening tale that reassures us that there are still good people out there. Maynard's story is not one of rags to riches, rather that a sensible, honest and ultimately optimistic outlook will prevail, and bring home the bacon.

The story of one man's efforts to make his way in the world, overcoming his chronic dyslexia on the way had me riveted from the start. If you like country tales buy this book. Do not expect perfect prose, but there is emotion aplenty, a few good, literally industrial scale piggy recipes, and a lot of humour - I even had a lump in my throat at the end and was left wanting more. Another excellent book from the Merlin Unwin publishing stable.