A masterful collection of essays on storytelling by Philip Pullman, one of our greatest writers.

In over 30 essays, written over 20 years, one of the world's great story-tellers meditates on story-telling. Warm, funny, generous, entertaining and, above all, deeply considered, they offer thoughts on a wide variety of topics, including the origin and composition of Philip's own stories, the craft of writing and the story-tellers who have meant the most to Philip. The art of story-telling is everywhere present in the essays themselves, in the instantly engaging tone, the vivid imagery and striking phrases, the resonant anecdotes, the humour and learnedness. Together, they are greater than the sum of their parts: a single, sustained engagement with story and story-telling.

"As if I'm sneaking into a year of lectures and classes with one of the masters of this art . . . Pullman shares advice, secrets, thoughts in such a down-to-earth, friendly manner, it almost makes me want to weep" - Guardian, Best Books of 2017

"Pullman is eloquent on the craft and power of storytelling" - Observer

"A fascinating tour of Pullman's teeming imagination and an inestimable illumination of the writing life" - Financial Times

"Luminously written" - TLS

"Pullman is as fine a thinker as he is a storyteller. It's almost not fair . . . abundant wisdom, provocative notions, and illuminating insights" - Kirkus starred review