Promoting Yorkshire Authors
X
Home
Our Book Pamphlet
Events Programme
Yorkshire Authors
Yorkshire Author Books
Yorkshire Author Genres
Constitution
Sign-In

Penguins Under the Porch: A Yorkshireman's Ode to Oamaru

David Harbourne
Click link to see all books by this author.
Want to promote this book to improve its ranking here and on Wise Grey Owl? Copy this link.
Genre: Children's. Format: Multiple. Views: This Week 759, Total 1240.

The author has indicated that this book is not suitable for children and young adults.

David Harbourne first stumbled across Oamaru more or less by chance while on a short visit to New Zealand from his home in Yorkshire, England. He discovered a town that was built from scratch in the second half of the nineteenth century. He quite accidently discovered the "Old Town", a part of Oamaru that is a time capsule built from gleaming limestone: one intricately carved classical building following another, each hinting at a half-forgotten history of wealth and optimism. And he found penguins. Lots of them. And Steampunk HQ. Thoughts of Oamaru nagged at him for five years. Finally, he quit his job, travelled half way round the world and spent a long and very happy time poking around and talking to anyone who would talk back - which in New Zealand, of course, meant basically everyone. He found out about Oamaru's founding figures: self-made men; a talented architect; New Zealand's first female novelist, and two police sergeants called Bullen. He met people who have revived interest in Oamaru's heritage, a latter-day Victorian, the mayor, steampunks and the genius behind the country's first moated castle. He ate whitebait frittata, muttonbird and Kurtoskalacs, and became an honorary Oamaruvian just in time for the Victorian heritage celebrations. The result is this entirely quirky, often hilarious, anecdotal "ode" to a town David Harbourne believes is still not entirely convinced that it is a jewel in New Zealand's crown. "It is", David firmly maintains. "It really is."
Search for the title using (opens in a new window).
Alternatively, the author has provided links that you can use to buy the book.
If you want to see the link before you click - hover over a Click to Choose link in the list above.
If you don't see the country or format you want to buy - try a Google Search - this may deliver a book that fits your region or needs.
Important: You don't purchase from this site - the author decides where you purchase her/his book and provides a link to the purchase site. This site is not responsible for external links. Please validate the link before you click using a reputable virus checking application.