The Measure of Things

This is an interesting project that didn't go absolutely according to plan. On the recommendation of Michael Marriott (the not-according-to-plan was not his fault of course) I was approached by a London Art+Design publisher to put together a book on the subject of measure and measuring. I sent the commissioning editor some ideas based on things I'd worked on; after several meetings I really wasn't sure about getting involved - but in the end the idea of 'having a book deal' and seeing my book in Waterstone's won the day. Vanity!

Initially all went well and I completed my 30,000 words in time for the deadline; I even was paid in full. But then there were delays and I began to think that what I'd written wasn't quite right, wasn't good enough. The publishers 'couldn't make their illustrations fit', they said. This went on and after about 18 months my worst fears were realised and the project was cancelled. Somehow i'd joined the massed ranks of the unpublished author...

This was a disappointment but then came the Covid lockdown. With more time I decided that - just for my own satisfaction - I would add illustrations to the text from my own sketches and photos, or from postcards I'd picked up. This 'book' is the result, not now available in published form but produced online by an on-demand printer as a record of what-might-have-been.
And several people have even bought a copy...

The Measure of Things is available from my online shop.
Click on the right-hand arrow to see the list of contents and a few sample pages.