Panic as Man Burns Crumpets: The Vanishing World of the Local Journalist

Panic as Man Burns Crumpets is a humorous and poignant account of the past twenty-five years in local newspapers, told through the experiences of a journalist who has worked for several publications. The book explores the challenges faced by local newspapers, including declining readership, financial struggles, and the rise of digital media.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Winner of the Lakeland Book of the Year Award 2022, this captivating novel takes readers on a hilarious and poignant journey through the world of local newspapers over the past twenty-five years. The protagonist, a journalist who has always dreamed of being a writer, finds herself working for her local paper, which is not quite as she imagined.

Embarrassing herself with a range of celebrities, from John Hurt to Jordan, she experiences a series of hilarious and humiliating incidents. Her best story, "The Man with the Pigeon Tattoo," is a masterpiece that showcases her talent for storytelling.

However, her career takes a turn for the worse when she interviews President Trump and urinates in the president of the Mothers' Union's garden. Her appearance on a BBC talk show does not go well, and being photographed naked is only the second most humiliating thing to happen to her on an infamous afternoon.

Despite the serious stories she covers, such as a mass shooting, a devastating flood, and the search for Madeleine McCann, local newspapers are dying. Her building is crumbling, and her readership is dwindling. Her carefully crafted features are read by fewer people than a story about fancy dress for dogs.

Panic as Man Burns Crumpets is a hilarious and revealing inside story of local newspapers during the past twenty-five years. Told in a way that is funny, poignant, and revealing, the novel offers a glimpse into a disappearing world that will be familiar to those who know about provincial newspapers, and envy what they have missed.

For those who don't know, the book is a classic and a gem, showcasing the bonkers, baffling but vital world of local press. Told with a tender fondness, the novel is a love letter to a disappearing art that is as funny as it is endearing.

In conclusion, Panic as Man Burns Crumpets is a must-read for anyone who loves journalism, local history, or just a good laugh. With its witty writing, memorable characters, and heartwarming story, the novel offers a glimpse into a world that is disappearing fast, but that will always be remembered and cherished by those who have experienced it.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 162 x 243 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472145796