The Book Binder & Hope Street
As part of Tracks Darlington’s HARK! The Sound of Stories series, exploring crossovers between music and the written word, we commissioned new pieces by Darlington creatives, to be performed at the 2023 Hark! wintering event. We asked singer-songwriter Eve Conway and writer Pam Plumb to collaborate to create new art on the theme of winter, inspired by each other’s work and style. These beautiful, fireside pieces were first performed at Darlington Crown Street Library.
The Book Binder
by Pam Plumb
It is late in the afternoon. The fire sighs and shifts its weight, impatient to be noticed. Lucia ignores it and opens her scratched leather roll which houses her needles, waxed threads and knife. The bone folder, her grandfather’s, lies next to the awl in the fold of the pouch. The smell of linseed oil from the tools conjures a memory of him measuring and cutting with precision. She glances at the photo of her daughter, Grace, the firelight reflected in the glass, and a melancholy smile reaches her lips. Lucia lifts her eyes to the window as if expecting to see them both in the dusk. The sky is darkening to smoky grey. She flicks on the lamp and bends her head to the task.
Cally is a winter baby. She was expected in the ice of January but born in the unexpected snow of November. When her exhausted parents wanted a book for their daughter’s naming ceremony, Lucia had been the natural choice. She’d suggested a simple Turkish map book, showing Cally’s smiles on each unfolding. But they wanted a book where family and friends could add kind words for Cally to read when she grew older. So they chose a rectangular one edged with crimson Japanese stab binding.
Lucia places mustard-coloured paper, patterned with red squirrels and robins, onto her cutting mat. Uses her ruler, the metal cold in her hand, to measure and score it. Cuts card, thick and rough between her fingers, for the front and back of the book. Gives careful consideration to the placing of the plump-chested robin to ensure it sits proud in the centre of the front board. On the back a squirrel faces east as though searching for the dawn. Lucia smiles. Grace would have loved this book. Now she uses the glue loosened by the warmth of the fire to fix the paper. She must wait for it to set.
She goes to the window and sees the day has gathered itself in. Quiet as an assassin. There are no street lights here. Her converted chapel stands alone on Silent Hill. Snow has fallen since she last looked out. Light from the window picks out small, precise footprints which draw in dark shadows from the whiteness; the ghost of a fox. Lucia has seen it, a vixen she thinks, a few times this year. Its reddy-orange coat welcome in the grey wash of winter. Over the crackle of the fire Lucia hears the tick, tick, tick of a magpie. She sees it bob in the silver birch. Scans the trees for its partner but it remains alone. One for sorrow.
Lucia pulls the heavy velvet curtain and returns to her workstation. Photos of Cally and her parents lie face down in a wallet at the end of the bench. She measures and cuts the paper that will make up the pages of the book. Uses the bone folder to score the edges and folds the leaves into position. The wooden handle of the awl sits in the palm of her hand, as though it was made for her rather than her grandfather. She thinks of her daughter’s tiny palm, then tucks the memory away. She punches holes in precise locations ready for stitching tomorrow. Now she places the book into the press for the night, tightens the screws. Tidies her tools away then tends to the fire. ⬛
“Being chosen for this commission was wonderful as it gave me the opportunity to collaborate and write in a way that I'd never done before. Working with Eve was special as throughout the process her musical creativity sparked ideas for my writing. It was an immense pleasure to be part of the Hark! event.” Pam Plumb
Eve Conway performing her song "Hope Street", inspired by The Book Binder, live by the fireside at Pealie's Barn.
Eve Conway
Facebook: facebook.com/eveconwaymusic
Insta: instagram.com/eveconwaymusic
Pam Plumb
Audio & Video by Rob Irish
Insta: instagram.com/robirishmedia
Web: www.rob.irish
These commissions were funded by Creative Darlington and Arts Council England, as part of the Your Library Story: Darlington Library Creative Programme.