A definitive biography of Alfred John Brown (1894-1969) Walker, Writer and Passionate Yorkshireman by John White

THIS book tells for the first time the captivating and engaging life story of Alfred John Brown (AJB) - prodigious walker, prolific writer and passionate Yorkshireman - a cult figure in his day. John White's comprehensive new hardback volume explores AJB's life and literary works, and examines the complex character behind one of the most widely read Yorkshire landscape authors.

In the almost 40 years since his death, AJB's written legacy survived largely in sporadic references to his works by other writers. This significant work represents AJB's first formal biography, written and self-published by John White with support from Alfred John Brown's surviving family.

This important and long overdue volume will re-establish and confirm AJB's deserved reputation in Yorkshire's cultural history as one of the most insightful Yorkshire authors of the 20th century, as recognised by an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Although he spent most of his career in the Bradford wool trade, AJB was best known for his series of Yorkshire 'tramping' books, which established him as one of the most accomplished of all the Yorkshire topographical writers.

John White's authoritative biographical work will be greatly received by walkers and those with a keen interest in the outdoors alike, as well as by passionate Yorkshiremen and women everywhere.

"It is impossible to over-emphasize the importance of AJB's influence on a whole generation of Dales lovers and walkers... John White's excellent, thoughtful biography of this remarkable and highly influential Yorkshireman, is most welcome... reminding us of AJB's intriguing personality and many achievements," writes Colin Speakman, himself a passionate Yorkshireman and author of over 50 works, who is also Chairman, Dales Way Association, Vice President, West Riding Ramblers Association, and Vice President, Yorkshire Dales Society.

John Anthony White was born in Bradford in 1945. He trained as a teacher and taught in Leeds, before leaving England in 1968 as a Fulbright Travel Scholar for post graduate study in the USA. He returned in 1973 with a Ph.D. in Human Science, and spent the rest of his academic career lecturing in Colleges, Institutes of Education and Universities in the UK.

Following early retirement in 2003, he developed an interest in the Yorkshire topographical writers, discovered Alfred John Brown, and spent several years investigating his life and works, which culminated in this biography.

He lives in Liverpool and is married with three sons and four grandchildren. He now has a renewed interest in rambling, and often tours around "God's Own Country" of Yorkshire in a renovated VW camper van to follow in the footsteps of 'AJB'.

The book is available from Smith Settle Printing and Binding Ltd., Yeadon, priced £15 plus £3.50p&p, via Tracey Thorne: tthorne@smithsettle.com or Tel: 0113-250-9201.

It book will be launched at an informal 'drop-in' session on Saturday, October 15 2016, from 1pm to 5pm, at The Hermit Inn, Moor Road, Burley Woodhead, near Ilkley.

The Hermit Inn was AJB's local pub when he lived in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where he wrote most of his Yorkshire tramping books.