Works of Leonard Salby (1919-1995)

I. A Thornbush Tale (166 pp., with 19 illustrations, published 1966)

II. Chesscourt

a. Chesscourt Manor (255 pp., published 1972) b. The Mainspring (242 pp., published 1973) c. The Firmament (271 pp., published 1975) d. The Creatures of the Plains (345 pp., published 1978) e. Nautical Dusk (435 pp., published 1980) f. Other Mirrors (676 pp., published 1983) g. The Sea of Glass (775 pp., self-published 1985) h. Chesscourt Regained (844 pp., self-published 1987)

III. The Northern Caves (3642 pp., unpublished, unfinished?)

[…]

Q: Long-time readers of your work were surprised to hear, earlier this year, that you were at work on a new Chesscourt installment. Many feel that in Chesscourt Regained you took your conceit as far as it could go -- or perhaps further. What inspired you to return to Chesscourt?

A: It wasn't done.

Q: Can you elaborate?

A: I'm sorry, but I'd prefer to let the work speak for itself.

Q: Of course.

Q: Moving on. Particularly in recent years, some readers of your work have noted that you seem to have left your original audience -- that is, children -- behind. Do you expect your new work to be accessible to the sort of young readers who, every year, discover the charms of A Thornbush Tale?

A: I expect my work to be accessible to anyone who shares my sense of life. I imagine some children share my sense of life, but ultimately I am indifferent to the distinction. I don't spend much time thinking about my audience.

[…]

Q: Finally, do you have anything else you wish to say to your readers?

A: I'm doing the best work I've ever done.