Reviews for York Tales

Printed in the York Evening Press 4th December 2004:
Tales of the Century
Stephen Lewis dips into a York version of The Canterbury Tales that puts our city on the literary map

Magdalena Chavez knew exactly what she wanted out of the York Tales. A collection of ‘descriptive, lively, bawdy and irreverent’ stories which would provide a snapshot of what life in York at the beginning of the 21st century was like when you stripped away the decorous surface. Has the boss of York publishing house ENDpapers achieved that? Has she ever!

The 20 stories collected in York Tales portray a York that might surprise many: a city by turns comic, dark, sexy, spooky and sometimes downright grim. But one that is above all vibrantly alive.

…She decided - long before the BBC got the idea – to publish a kind of updated, contemporary version of Chaucer, but this time set firmly in York…with the help of editor Rachel Hazelwood, the stories have been collected together into a volume that provides an unforgettable picture of the city, and which will at the same time be a massive boost to York’s blossoming literary scene.

…So is Rachel pleased with the result? Not half. ‘I’m absolutely thrilled with it,’ she says. ‘There is something for everyone. And the book gives a real sense of place – the character and dignity of York itself, as well as the qualities of the people who live here: pride, humour, spirit, imagination and integrity.’ The important thing now, she says, is to make the most of what the book scene has done for York’s growing literary scene. ENDpapers is hoping to set up a York Tales writers’ group…

Visit ENDpapers, York based publiser:
http://www.endpapers.co.uk/

Order York Tales from Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/

Visit York Evening Press:
http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/

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