Fans of Norah Lofts discussion
Layer Wood +other NL locations
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Layer Wood Map
message 251:
by
Peggy
(new)
Jul 11, 2012 05:22PM
Well said, Werner! Sylvia did a wonderful job.
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Thanks SO MUCH, Werner and Peggy, for all your help and support!
Sylvia, I missed the last round of this conversation (I hadn't yet discovered this forum), but I am astounded and amazed at what you have done. I haven't seen your map yet, but the fact that you have lovingly and creatively made a real place out of the fictional world which all of us diehard Lofts fans so frequently inhabit, is a gift to all of us. Thank you for the time you have taken so that our imaginations may come alive. I am so impressed by your efforts!
Thank you for all the kind thoughts, Debbie. I hope you will request the notes and the revised map from Werner (his address is on message 214). When we first started this project, several memnbers chose NL books to look for descriptions of locations. All of the key descriptions have been culled from her 22 (at least) Layer Wood titles, and are included in the notes Werner keeps on file. We are planning to begin a group read of "Afternoon of an Autocrat" (aka "The Devil in Clevely" and "The Deadly Gift") in September. A beautiful map of the village of Clevely is available on the dust jacket of the edition of this book by Michael Joseph, Pub. (The cover artist was Willie McLaren.)
We learned of this map from NL's son, Clive, when he searched his collection for any NL maps. I believe it is still on NL's photo page, but Werner may also have a copy of it. I can also send out a copy of it.
You are right, Debbie, that NL's fictional world is a very important place for all of us!
The Clevely map definitely sounds familiar, and I believe we have a copy in the Easley Library vertical file folder where we keep the other Lofts material. As soon as I get back to work on Monday (I'm off this week) I'll check to verify that.
I would love copies of everything, of course! I'll write to Werner. "Afternoon of an Autocrat" is one of my favorites, so I'll be watching for the group read too.
No, as it turns out, we don't have a copy of the Clevely map/drawing on file here! I knew I'd seen it, but I realize now that was back when we were searching for a Layer Wood map (before we made our own), and I borrowed a copy of an edition of Afternoon of an Autocrat that was supposed to have a "map." (Which it did --just not the one we wanted!) But Sylvia has promised to send me a copy, so it'll soon be on file.
I am sending it out to you today, Werner. I especially ordered this book edition from Alibris just to get this dust cover map of Clevely, but it is in VERY BAD condition. I am sending a black and white copy, which is clearer to read, and a color copy just to show the beautiful muted colors used by the artist. But the color copy has to be copied in 2 pages to see both sides of the Clevely village map. As I mentioned way back on this thread, the label that many of you will be interested in is "The Ride," a haunted section of the path into Layer Wood. (Layer Wood's edge is only indicated by a few trees on this map.) You can barely see the words "The Ride" but they are visible about an inch above the right cherub's head.I am sure that all who participate in the next group read of Afternoon of an Autocrat will want this great village map. Thanks again, Werner, for your help and dedication.
Thank YOU, Sylvia; we're all in your debt! I'm glad my library can be the custodian of this material; I think that the Layer Wood map(s) in particular will be a significant contribution to future Lofts scholarship.
Hi Sylvia,Thanks for sending the amended Layer Wood map to Clive Lofts and to us. It does look a lot better! I'm sure Clive will write to you directly and he's planning to show the map to his children when they next visit (Olivia lives in the Caribbean). It's up to them whether they'd like to consider including it in the books - but we are very grateful for your dedication and time. It's very impressive!
The rights to Norah's books which had been leased to The History Press are now reverting to Tree of Life Publishing (History Press have not done a very good job and their editing is appalling!) and we will be putting ALL the books back into print over the next five years.
'Afternoon of An Autocrat' (re-named 'The Devil in Clevely' will be the next one out in October 2013.
Thanks for being in touch.
Best wishes, Maggy (Partner, Tree of Life Publishing).
Hi Maggy, And thanks so much for your complimentary opinion of this map revision. When I read that Tree of Life intends to republish ALL of NL's books, my heart jumped ALL the way to the moon!! It gives me such a feeling of satisfaction to know that this author, who has given me a lifetime of reading pleasure, will continue to shine for generations to come. I am so grateful to you for your guiding hand in keeping her work alive.
P.S. to Maggy, Can you tell us if there is a chance that the original dust cover art by Willie McLaren, or another map of the village of Clevely, will be included in the new print of The Devil in Clevely? Methinks your company is being very crafty in bringing this book out during the "bewitching" month, and in a year with "13" in it! I envision piles of them in Halloween displays in all the bookstores. Cackle, cackle!
We feel the same way as you Sylvia - thank you. We are now working with a print-on-demand company which should mean that the books stay in print in perpetuity, which is what Clive wants most. Oh - and 'Devil in Clevely' will be out in October 2012 not 13! Followed by 'Scent of Cloves.'
Oh, wow! I wonder if we shouldn't consider putting off the next group read until October, just one more month. We could all be reading NEW copies of TDIC!
Such exciting news about all the books coming out in print. What fun to learn that Clive is going to share the map with his children. If everyone wants to postpone the group read another month, that is fine with me. Just let me know what you think.
I'd originally planned to read it in September because Alice suggested that it was best read in the fall, and scheduling it later in the fall would interfere with the annual October common read in my Supernatural Fiction Readers group. But since this novel has supernatural elements, maybe some members of the other group would be willing to do it then as a common read, so it could be a simultaneous common read in both groups. If you all want me to, I can explore that idea.
I think the common read would be SUPER! I wonder when the new copies will be available for ordering? Maggy?
Actually, I already own a copy of this book, so won't be in the market for a new one. But I'm sure others in the group might want to consider purchasing one! (And I definitely want to select some of the Tree of Life editions for the Bluefield College library.)I didn't mention it earlier, but Sylvia's revised map and notes arrived at the BC library last week, and are now on file. Great job, Sylvia!
Thanks, and Werner, the copies of the Clevely map should arrive at the college in another day or two. I also intend to order the new book for my hometown library, where my love for Norah Lofts began.
What good news about the NL reprints - and I'm so glad The Devil in Clevely is to have it's original (and best) title back too! I'll do the group read whenever suits most people.
And Sylvia, I can never thank you enough for the production of the map , from the first collaborative efforts to the last updated and beautiful version , your skills have been superb . Thank you again and again.
Thanks for all your help and contributions as well, Barbara.
Sylvia, no to the original dust jacket/map. There are all sorts of copyright issues over old stuff like that.We're currently using a wonderful Spanish artist called Jose-Luis Munoz for the covers. http://www.jlmunoz.com/html/la_luna_5... is the image for The Devil in Clevely.
Hopefully we'll have 'Devil' out in late September. It will be available in the UK, USA and Australia. And Jassy, Esther, How Far to Bethlehem and Bless This House in the new versions in the next month or so.
Thanks for all the info, Maggy. The cover art is spectacular!
The Clevely map/drawing mentioned above has arrived safely here at the library, and is now on file!
Werner wrote: "Thanks for all the thought and hard work you've put into this project, Sylvia! You've served above and beyond the call of duty, and we really appreciate you."Is it still possible to obtain this map? I would love to have a copy either by email or post. I am in the UK so email would be better.
Thanks
Elizabeth,Goodreads doesn't allow attachments in their email program but if you'll send me an email giving me your regular email, I can send you the map as a PDF.
Peggy
Elizabeth, since we just finished a group read of The Devil in Clevely (Aft. of an Autocrat) I was wondering if you are looking for the Clevely map (a professionally rendered book cover) which Werner just mentioned in post 274? Peg, are you able to email that map to Elizabeth as well?The quote of Werner's that you mention on post 275 refers to our group project of making a map of Layer Wood and surrounding towns, manors, etc. Which map did you want Peg to email to you?
Sylvia, I don't have the Clevely map - just the Layer Wood map that you drew up.
It is the Layer Wood map that I would like. The clevely map is already in 'photos' so I have thatThanks
I just received both from Sylvia - they're both fantastic!!
Thank you so much for the map Peggy it is brilliant and I am very grateful.
Elizabeth, you are welcome but Sylvia needs the thanks--she did all the work, I just scanned it!
Sylvia has been so generous with her map - it took ages for her to do this work and lots of thinking/imagining. She has been selflessly sharing it with all of us on the net so I vote we all send her a donation so that, when she adds them all up, she could buy a coveted not-in-her-library NL!!
Awwww, thank you all so much! Just hearing that you like the L.W. map and accept it as possibly being how NL envisioned her fictional world is my best reward. I do own all of NL's titles, but thanks, Sallie, for the generous thought.Since the holiday shopping season is getting close, please consider ordering NL's new reprints as Christmas gifts from Tree of Life Publishers. They are a bit on the high side for a pb, but the print is easy to read, and the size of the books I've bought were a bigger size than the old pb's and beautifully printed. Maggy, NL agent and Pub, hopes to have all of NL's books reprinted, but we need to "give them some business" to make it happen! I ordered from Amazon, but I understand that bookstores will order for you, too. If enough of us ordered How Far To Bethlehem for Christmas gifts, maybe they would take notice and display the book!
Sylvia wrote: "Awwww, thank you all so much! Just hearing that you like the L.W. map and accept it as possibly being how NL envisioned her fictional world is my best reward. I do own all of NL's titles, but tha..."Thanks for doing the map Sylvia,it is brilliant!
You have given me an idea there, How far to Bethlehem would be a brilliant Christmas read, or have you already done that? I read it every year on the first day of the Christmas holidays! I never become tired of it.
I vote yes - good idea.PS - I just ordered House at Sunset on Amazon and right under it was Haunted House by NL. I've never heard of this - is it one of those retitled ones?
Elizabeth, we have a folder for How Far to Bethlehem?, and not one but two discussion threads on it there, both of which have a lot of posts and each of which was quite active at one time with back-and-forth discussion. But we've never actually done a formal common read of it, though the idea has been kicked around. (I've read it, and could chime in on the discussion.) If we do that, my suggestion would be to take one of the exisiting threads and add to it, rather than starting a third one; but that's up to the rest of you!
Good idea Werner. I will check on the threads, I seem to remember that one is about the location of Gaspar's city.
Sallie wrote: "I vote yes - good idea.PS - I just ordered House at Sunset on Amazon and right under it was Haunted House by NL. I've never heard of this - is it one of those retitled ones?"
It is the sequel to Gad's Hall I think my copy is called 'The haunting of gad's Hall' but it is the same book as 'haunted house' so yes it is retitled.
Thanks, E. The Amazon site didn't give any info on the book's content so I couldn't tell.
I have reposted Sylvia's post below just in case new members wanted to follow up the Layer Wood Map saga" I would like to encourage all members who love to follow maps to consider trying your hand at designing a Layer Wood/towns/villages map and sharing it with all of us. All the basic locations are already researched by our members (about 20 pages of notes) and may be obtained from Werner Lind, a college librarian, and one of our members. I suggest a small donation to cover mailing and copying/paper/time costs.
The address is: Werner Lind, Easterly Library, Bluefield College, 3000 College Drive, Bluefield, VA 24605 USA
Thanks, Werner, as always, for keeping our research on file. "
Sylvia, here at the BC library, we're glad to do that! Thank you for all the hard work you put into compiling it.
It was such a pleasure, Werner, and I feel pretty satisfied with my second map (definitely NOT the 1st attempt - you could throw it out if you haven't already.) But I sure wish some other interested readers would obtain those notes and see what they could come up with. I remember finding what I thought were inconsistencies, but some people have a natural directional sense, and they might make a more accurate map.I put my Layer Wood/Suffolk map on old looking cloth, framed it with an old looking wood frame, and hung it right in front of my computer. Under it is framed a real treasure, an authentic Suffolk map made by John Gibson in 1759 and given to me by a dear friend whom I came to know because of our love of Norah Lofts.
Barbara wrote: "I thought Muchanger was a village, but in my pb copy of Devil In Cleveley it says " All through the late autumn and summer ...there was much coming and going between Clevely and the big hous..."
From the references in Bless This House, Muchanger is a manor that was the home of the Blackwood family, the family that Thomasina Rawley married into. She has a son Robert Rawley lived there with a large family until he and his wife moved away to be close to their youngest daughter Caroline, and sold the Slipwell land to old Mistress Whymark and the house to an old admiral. Whether it had a village as part of the estate its not clear. Later when Luella Maybrook appears in The Governess chapter it seems that Mrs. Maybrook is Caroline Blackwood and from Luella's innate curiousity with and then love for Merravay, that John Whymark is her biological father and that the Blackwoods moved to conceal Caroline's pregnancy. Phyllis Whymark had expressed concerned about the courtship that Caroline was her son's cousin (once removed) and that they were too closely related for children. sorry to go on this long.
The Layer Wood notes from "Nethergate" (pg. 11) also tell us that Muchanger was "a big house within a brisk walk of Ockley," and that Martha Pratt worked there for 5 years. I didn't find a mention of it also being a village.John, it's great to have you on board!
Yes welcome John. Have you seen our Layer Wood Map? It was project of Sylvia's that several of us collaborated on . We could get a copy to you if interested I reckon, don't you Syb?Updated - I remember now that Werners's college library has a copy and I see you are aware of this so , goodo .
Sylvia, I would love to see the map you made of Layer Wood. Is it possible to post a picture?
Robert, the Bluefield College library (where I'm one of the librarians) has a copy of the current map and its notes. If you personal-message me with your e-mail address, I'll send you a copy of these as an attachment to an e-mail.
