'A wonderful book... riveting' Edmund de Waal

'An illuminating and exhilarating book, as intricate and wonderfully engaging as the carvings that lie at its heart' Times Literary Supplement, Best Books of the Year


'A beautifully written account of craft and inspiration' The New Republic, Best Books of the Year


'One of those gentle quest memoirs in which the reader becomes an intimate... Esterly writes evocatively... Full of fine-grained and engaging detail' Mail on Sunday


'A beautiful, intricate mediation on creativity and discovery, on fire and rebirth, on culture and history. Truly, this is a story to be pored over with love and admiration' Elizabeth Gilbert


'Every now and then there comes along a memoir that stands out for its beauty, its ability to charm, and its insights into a life given over to art. This lovely book about woodcarving is just such a work. Entrancing' Alexander McCall Smith


'A big moment for the obscure world of wood carving' Wall Street Journal