About the Author

Neil Hanson has crammed an awful lot of living into just one life. Since graduating from Oxford University, he has travelled around the world twice; been a plasterer's mate, an ice cream salesman and a holiday camp redcoat. He worked in a number of art and photography galleries; was simultaneously an art critic and a rugby league commentator; the editor of the Good Beer Guide; the owner of the highest pub in England; a book reviewer, travel writer and critic; and a radio broadcaster for the BBC and for independent radio networks in Australia and New Zealand. He has written for every British national newspaper and for media around the world, made guest appearances on everything from BBC Television's flagship news program to Australia's top-rated radio show and NBC's Today Show. He is also a highly successful lecturer and after-dinner speaker and has written forty published novels and non-fiction books under a variety of noms de plume, plus a couple of screenplays, a playscript for a musical and a series of short stories. He was appointed to a Fellowship of the Royal Literary Fund in 2007. Neil is also the author of an acclaimed series of popular histories: The Custom of the Sea; The Dreadful Judgement; The Confident Hope of a Miracle; The Unknown Soldier; First Blitz; Monk Eastman; and Escape From Germany. Critics around the world have hailed them as "brilliant", "compelling", and "a triumph". He lives in the Yorkshire Dales with his wife and family.

Reviews

A tribute to a way of life which is long gone and a celebration of the Dales
*Yorkshire Post*

Neil Hanson's anecdote-laden memoir is reminiscent of James Herriot
*The Dalesman*

One of the funniest, most entertaining and life-affirming books of the year... A warm and often hilarious account of tenacity and survival, The Inn at the Top is packed with true Yorkshire-style anecdotes, brushes with the law, late night lock-ins, adventures with colourful locals and weather stories to make your hair curl. Sit back and enjoy...
*Lancashire Evening Post*

Richly entertaining... a wonderful history lesson
*Ilkley Gazette*

Engaging and entertaining... warm memories to last a lifetime
*Inside Beer*

A warm, amusing and at times sad book... it's also beautifully written
*Protz on Beer*

Happy holiday reading.. highly diverting
*The Northern Echo*

One of the most funniest, most entertaining and life-affirming books of the year
*Lancaster Guardian*

A delightful Christmas present, especially for lovers of community pubs
*The London Drinker Mag*

Wonderfully readable and often very funny
*Waterstones Bradford Blog*

A heartwarming and hilarious tale
*Darlington & Stockton Times*