In any society there is always pressure to conform, to behave like those around you. Sometimes it can be difficult to stand alone, to follow your own path whether that’s by choice or force of circumstance. These stories are all about people who are slightly out of step with the world around them. Such people as: A young woman who thinks she is stupid but develops self-confidence when someone believes in her.A scientist who is convinced that the world is headed for a total flood so begins building an Ark in his back garden.A retired headmistress who refuses to be bullied by other residents in her apartment block. A 90 year old lady who defies developers, ignores a compulsory purchase order and refuses to leave her home.These people, and those in the other stories, may not think of it in these terms but they are all marching to the beat of a different drum.
Michael Bartlett has been a professional writer for over 50 years. Much of his earlier work was for radio, television and the stage. He has been a regular writer for programmes such as The Archers (Radio 4), Rainbow (Thames TV) and Jackanory (BBC TV), and he has also written numerous original plays which have been staged for radio, TV and theatre across the UK. In the past few years he has been writing novels and short stories. He lives with his wife in Norfolk.
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A Different Drum is an intriguing collection of very varied, very entertaining stories about people who are somehow different from the rest of us, those who do not quite conform, individuals some might call eccentric. For example the elderly lady who has a tame vulture as her household pet, or the scientist who believes that a flood of Biblical proportions is imminent, and is building an Ark in his garden, and the highly conventional retired Head Mistress who becomes involved in the internecine politics of her retirement apartment and takes on the bullies.
Each story has its own individual style and voice , and is as complete and satisfying as a full length novel; some of them are so dialogue rich that they feel like potential Film or TV scripts!
Michael Bartlett has created a terrific range of remarkable characters, each with their own life and concerns. The reader gets to know them, becomes involved in their story and cares about the outcome. Some of the stories make you laugh out loud, some are sad, all are memorable.
These stories deserve more than one quick read, they are worth savouring now, and re reading again later.
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