Mr. Michael Hugh Middleton —

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Many years ago, when I researched my grandfather, Arnold Middleton’s life and produced a biography which I titled “Footnote to Stevenson’, I often visited his nephew, Eric Watkins, to ask for information. Eric provided me with his recollections and his wife, Kathleen gave me a story that she had written called ’Uncle Safroni’. It was then that I became dimly aware of her own talent. Her story was published in the 'South London Press' in three weekly parts on Friday, July 14, 2000, Friday, July 21, 2000 and Friday July 28, 2000.

    Eric had grave doubts about my writing project and suggested that i write my own material instead. Although I did not abandon my grandfather, completely, I followed Eric’s advice and one result was a novel, ‘What Maidens Loth’.

    A few years ago I retrieved this manuscript from the bottom drawer and had another look It seemed to me that a rewrite was not possible; that, after the passing of the years, I could only write a new novel and returned the manuscript to the bottom drawer.

    The novel has a Greek island setting where Gods, both human and extra-terrestrial, might appear around each corner. I also composed a suitable preface.

PS. An attempt is being made to translate 'A Footnote to Stevenson' into a 'net' version called 'How wonderful to make a trapeze of the stars'

    I also wrote Notes_to_Sailor_and_Beachcomber which complement the Footnote to Stevenson biography.