Playing with Fire

The blaze of a log fire on a cold night speaks to the heart in a way no other flame can. It has character and ever-changing form; it has vibrant colour and a balletic movement. Indeed, it was the flame that transformed the way life was lived on earth, but now that primary driver of evolution finds itself being extinguished in a modern world of microwaves, induction hobs and central heating. Gradually the flames are going out, as houses are now built without fireplaces, flats never had them, bonfires are banned, and schoolchildren are forbidden to use the Bunsen burner. But the sight of a flame remains as evocative as ever, and this how-to book will tell you how to bring fire back into your life. It wants to inspire, and teach, and show the wonders that the magic burning flame can conjure up. It looks at the history of fire, and how it has been used in the development of man, but this book's ambition is to fire the imagination and to leave its reader with a burning desire to burn wood. AUTHOR: Paul Heiney is a well-known writer, broadcaster and journalist. Best known as the presenter for ITV's Countrywise, he has also appeared on Watchdog and has been a contributor on all of Britain's national radio networks, including BBC Radio 4's Home Truths. He has been a columnist for The Times, and is also the author of several bestselling books. SELLING POINTS: . Author is a well- known television personality with an interest in the outdoors . A practical guide: includes chapters on how best to light fires, looking after a fire in the home, and how to gather the perfect firewood . Will appeal to the growing number of people who have adopted a simpler lifestyle 100 colour illustrations