Playing with Fire by Paul Heiney

I was going to call this a quirky book, and then stopped myself.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the times, what with central heating, and small gardens, that a book that explores the art of chopping and burning wood is considered any such thing.

Paul Heiney, the author,  reminds us of the Zen proverb:

Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.

After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.

Indeed.

Playing with Fire is actually a fascinating history of wood, and fires, and an illustration of the magic of fire and flame. It is a hands on exploration of the care of woodland, the most suitable woods for burning, and the tinder for getting things going in the first place. And once the tinder is lit, how best to make the fire draw – inside the house, and out. It is a wood lover’s book, or for someone who wants at least one foot in the real world, and to smell the woodsmoke, and watch woodland flourish – the illustrations are superb.

Being of a certain age, I thought it the simplest thing to make a fire burn, having been taught by Mum and Dad. Clean out the fireplace, put the ash on the garden, and lay the fire again. And how best to make it draw, and then moving on from the open fireplace to the wood burner, and how to manage that. Though aren’t those soon to be politically incorrect. There are so many things added to the list now, one loses count.

And how to build a bonfire, and even put some spuds in the ash to eat when the day is done. Probably outlawed too.

I happened to hear of a friend who didn’t know how to get her log burner to work. First a bit of paper, then throw on a log. Er, no. She needs this book.

But actually we all need books like this. Wonderfully illustrated and written with love – about one of our most precious and sustainable commodities. Trees have leaves that produce oxygen. Careful husbanding of woodland not only provides a better environment, but heat. There’s a synchronicity

Read this. It is wholesome, healing, evocative, and fascinating. A gem.

Playing with Fire – The art of chopping and burning wood by Paul Heiney.

Pub The History Press hb £20