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LIFE AFLOAT - PAST & PRESENT - A RECOMMENDED LIST
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The books in this section to my mind serve more than one purpose, they are all "true life" stories of life on or around the Canals, and so form a valuable social history reference. They also  provide a good read, and so just as easily could find themselves treated as "fiction". It is amazing how the descriptions of a scene or event can spark that memory of a visit to a particular part of a canal or an occasion when you found yourself in a similar situation. Even to someone new to the "Cut" I am sure the tales of days gone by will appeal.

ANDERTON FOR ORDERS - By Tom Foxon. Part one of Tom Foxons story of his life as a working boatman in the early 50's. Offers an evocative picture of life afloat and describes the canals in such a way that if you have cruised them yourself, you will be able to put yourself in his shoes.

NUMBER ONE - By Tom Foxon. Concludes the story of his working life afloat by telling of his change from being a hired man to a "Number One" - an owner operator. Again an excellent read.

NARROW BOAT - by L T C Rolt: First published in 1944, this book is the tale of Rolt's pre-war journeys aboard "Cressy" it is perhaps the book that inspired the restoration movement of the 1950's & 60's. Well written, it should be a "must read" for anyone who has enjoyed the canals.

RAMLIN' ROSE - by Sheila Stewart: This is a book about a waterway of life. The author has thoroughly researched the history of those whose life was the waterways - born on a boat worked on a boat and for some, died on a boat - She also extensively interviewed those few remaining boaters from this bygone age. 

From the results of all her hard work she has produced what is perhaps  best called a "factional biography"  She has cleverly woven the many stories of life afloat that she heard from the mouths of those that lived through them, with the results of her other research to produce a life story of a family afloat. 

If you have ever cruised the canals I defy you to say that you are not totally captivated by this tale of triumph against adversity. If you have never cruised the waterways, you will still I think find this a riveting read.  (the illustration in this case is not the books cover) 

AMATEUR BOATWOMEN - by Eily Gayford: The author tells of her experiences during the war training women recruits to crew narrow boats to replace the men gone to war. 

TROUBLED WATERS - by Margaret Cornish: Here the author is one of the wartime recruits. This is her account of two years afloat and her subsequent life-long appreciation of the canals.

IDLE WOMEN - by Susan Woolfit: Again the story of the wartime all-female boat crews. The title comes from the badge they wore IW (Inland Waterways) not from their work rate. Temporarily unavailiable

Both this and the two preceding books come highly recommended by me. They evoke a true sense of feeling for the trial and tribulations these gutsy girls from all background faced and in most cases conquered.

LOCK KEEPERS DAUGHTER - a Worcestershire Canal Childhood by Pat Warner: An autobiography which graphically tells the tale of a hauntingly deprived - yet happy - childhood in the 1920's and 30's. It is set on Tardebigge locks were Pat's father was a lock keeper and tells the tale of her adventures with the canal boat families, waterway workers, and Tardebigge villagers. With over 80 photos and illustrations this book forms a unique social document as well as being a riveting read.

Two books now that are written by someone who still has an active involvement in Narrow boat carrying today - DAVID BLAGROVE -The first book

BREAD UPON THE WATERS tells of the authors struggle in the difficult years after the War to live and work afloat when commercial carrying was in what at the time appeared to be its "death throws" 

The second THE QUIET WATERS BY continues his "waterway of life" and takes us through several different aspects of his life as a lock keeper and running a trip boat.

A CANAL PEOPLE- by Sonia Rolt: Lavishly illustrated with contemporary photographs, this book provides a vivid insight into life on the canals in the 1940's and 50's. It shows that the undeniably harsh way of life that was the lot of a working boater was not solely  a male preserve. It shows the conditions that the wives and children also had to endure. 

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