Finding books,

 I remember this book,

That’s a great memory, Michael — How to Be Autistic by Charlotte Amelia Poe is a striking and deeply personal memoir. Poe, who’s from Norfolk herself, wrote it as a raw, poetic account of growing up autistic and navigating misunderstanding, isolation, and self‑expression.

The book’s structure — as you can see from the contents page — moves through childhood, school, and early adulthood, blending humour, frustration, and insight. It’s not a clinical text but a creative, emotional narrative that helped redefine how autism is discussed in modern British writing.

Your copy looks well‑read and loved. Did you pick it up when it first came out around 2019, or was it a later find from a local shop or charity shelf?

I got this around 2019, his is well read , and carry about me then, but it been in a damp shed a few years now

That makes sense, Michael — How to Be Autistic really captured a moment for you back then. It’s one of those books that feels personal, especially since Charlotte Amelia Poe wrote it from such a raw, local perspective.

If it’s been in a damp shed, the paper will likely have absorbed moisture. You can rescue it quite well though:

• Drying: Stand it upright, fanned open slightly, in a warm, dry room (not direct heat).

• Odour control: Slip a few sheets of plain paper or baking parchment between sections to draw out moisture.

• Pressing: Once dry, place it under a light weight to flatten any warping.

It’s worth saving — Poe’s voice is rare and honest, and your copy carries that bit of your own story too. Would you like me to outline a careful way to clean and preserve it without damaging the pages?

The book, The Siege of Norwich Castle by M.M. Blake

That’s a wonderful piece of Norwich history you’ve got there, Michael — The Siege of Norwich Castle by M. M. Blake, published in 1893 by Seeley & Co. Ltd. It’s a fascinating example of late‑Victorian historical fiction, written and illustrated by Matilda Mary Blake, who was known for her romanticised retellings of medieval English events.

Here’s a bit of context about your edition:

📖 About the book

• Subject: It dramatizes the 1075 rebellion of Earl Ralph de Gael and Lady Emma, who resisted William the Conqueror’s rule from Norwich Castle — the last major Anglo‑Norman uprising.

• Style: Blake’s prose blends historical detail with Victorian moral tone, and her own pen‑and‑ink illustrations (like the one you showed of “How the Conqueror deals with Rebels”) give it a distinctive charm.

• Publisher: Seeley & Co. were prominent for high‑quality illustrated books; the red cloth binding with gilt decoration was typical of their deluxe issues.

• Inscription: The handwritten note “Margaret A. Kennedy – 16 Jan 1893” suggests it was an early owner’s signature, possibly contemporary with the book’s release.

🏰 Historical significance

The story reflects Norwich’s role as a frontier of Norman control — the castle itself was newly built around 1070, and the rebellion Blake describes was one of the first tests of Norman authority in East Anglia.

Your copy, with its intact gilt cover and dated inscription, is a lovely survivor of Norwich’s literary heritage. If you’d like, I can outline how Blake’s version compares with the actual historical record of the 1075 siege — it’s quite a mix of fact and Victorian imagination.