St Edward's Rhubarb Issue 5_web (2)

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12 ST EDWARD’S rhuba rb
Books
Tyler’s Dream
by Matthew Butler
(G, 2001-2003)
Kenneth Grahame look out!
We may soon be decorating
our dining hall with more
than The Wind in the Willows
imagery. This illustrated fantasy
adventure tale sees a boy who
tries to outrun a nightmare.
Tyler must navigate a series of
twisted dreams as he runs from
a great evil across a breath-
taking landscape. Matthew
said: “It took me 16 years to
finish this book. In fact I first
started to write and illustrate in
earnest when I was a student
at St Edward’s, and remember
being hit with a particularly
good idea about the plot whilst
sitting in Sunday chapel. So
either divine revelation, or
a wandering mind!” Kirkus
Review said: ‘A brisk, appealing
story teeming with action
and suspense. The narrative
momentum is impressive and
striking. A thoroughly animated
fantasy, and a commendable
series introduction.’ The book is
available to order on Amazon,
and Matthew would like to
thank anyone in advance who
buys and reviews a copy.
Members of a Very
Noble Friendship
by School Archivist
Christopher Nathan
(G, 1954-1957)
On 4th August 1914 when
the Great War broke out,
the School had just gone
on holiday with a 40 strong
O.T.C. force attending their
annual camp at Tidworth. The
announcement that hostilities
were about to begin spread
like wildfire and for the next
four and a half years, life would
never be the same again. 673
members of the School’s
community went into uniform
over these years when 121
OSE and three teachers were
lost and many more wounded
- some many times over. This
book describes what occurred
in those tumultuous days, both
at the various battle stations all
over the world and also back in
Oxford. Warden Ferguson had
enormous challenges to face at
the School with the constant
The Drowning Ground
by James Marrison
(B, 1986-1991)
When two young girls vanish in
broad daylight in the Cotswolds,
Argentine DCI Guillermo
Downes pledges that he will find
them no matter what it takes.
Years later when a suspect
in the case is found brutally
murdered and the remains of
a body are discovered beneath
his house Downes believes
that the mystery surrounding
their fate may finally have
been resolved. The Drowning
Ground is the first in a series
of detective novels set in the
Cotswolds, and the second
novel will be published this year.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
said: ‘With an intricate plot
with numerous twists and an
intriguing cop with a complex
history, Marrison rivets the
reader straight through to the
novel’s chilling conclusion. An
author to watch, he scores high
with this impressive debut’.
exodus of key people as well
as having to read the lists of
those lost in Chapel, often with
siblings in the congregation.
Archival records from the
School’s excellent collections
have been extensively used and
also other relevant family, OSE,
peer schools, regimental, naval
and air force records to which
the author was given open
access. The book is available
to purchase and orders can be
made through the OSE Office.
The book is priced at £15 +
£4.95 for postage and packing
within the UK. If you would
like a price for international
postage, or to arrange
collection from the School,
please contact the
OSE Office on
or 01865 319362.
F E A T U R E S