THE MAN WHO MADE THINGS OUT OF TREES

Ash was a weapon of war when making bows and arrows was the main military supply business. Ash is also a tree associated with healing and divination. Robert Penn tells the story of the afterlife of an ash tree he cut down. He examines the history of the tree and its wood along the way. Penn's British-accented voice is slow and gentle, with a slight roughness, as he recounts his own journeys and the uses he finds for the ash wood. His stops include a wheelwright's yard and an American baseball bat factory. He shares his admiration for craftsmanship and the strong wood with each visit. Pieces of the ash even become a writing desk, offering one last tribute to its versatility. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2016]