The Postal Paths

A delightful exploration of one of our most important cultural figures in the community, the postman. Postal Paths journeys around the UK, unearthing forgotten stories from a role that only a few were hardy enough to complete day in day out. You will never look at a postman in the same way again. * Rebecca Smith, author of ‘Rural: The Lives of the Working Class Countryside’ *As a fan of handwritten letters, I am so pleased this book exists! This charming book celebrates the rural postal routes experienced by postmen from a bygone era. With detailed research, Cleaver manages to bring to the life the lives of those who served their communities when there was no such thing as the internet. These post men and women united friends and families by delivering their stories in letters. I am delighted that their stories are being told. * Kiran Sidhu, journalist and author of ‘I Can Hear the Cuckoo’ *A fascinating exploration of routes trod by generations of rural postmen and women - lovingly told and lively, Postal Paths delves into an overlooked chapter in the story of our wonderful path network * Jack Cornish, author of The Lost Paths *Equal parts history, memoir and ode to the labour of the written word, this wryly funny book is something to write home about. * Cumbria Life magazine *

Alan Cleaver is a retired newspaper journalist and editor, with a career spent mostly in provincial journalism. In 2010, he decided to leave journalism to self-publish books on Cumbrian history, folklore and walking.