Author(s): Alan Garner

Fiction

Based on the true story of William Buckley, Strandloper begins in the rural Cheshire of the 1790s. Where young William and Het are preparing for the annual festival known as Shick-Shack Day. William has been chosen as the village's Shick-Shack, an ancient fertility figure. Het is to be his "Teaser". When the local landowner discovers the celebration in the church, William is arrested and transported to New Holland. Arriving in the strange continent, he escapes and walks for more than a year in the intense heat. He collapses and is discovered by Aborigines, who believe him to be Murrangurk, the great hero, lawgiver, and heater of their people, returned from the dead. William then becomes Murrangurk in reality, and Het is a forgotten memory. When he finally does return it is neither as William nor Murrangurk, but as "Strandloper". And in a magnificent climax, the Dreaming of the Aborigines and the ancient green magic of England are fused as one.