The Ghost Show by Irvine Hunt, £6.99

IRVINE Hunt has based his highly readable story about a teenager who joins a touring fairground in Cumbria on the real-life Ghost Show run by George Biddall.

This was one of the most popular travelling fairs in late 19th Century North West, not least because George often gave free shows to workhouse inmates.

In his fictional version, Hunt tells the story of 16-year-old Henry Hodgekin who joins the ghost show after losing his farm labourer's job and failing to get another agricultural position.

The Ghost Show evokes a long-lost era when the arrival of a travelling fair was often a highlight of community life.

Set just before 1900, the story follows Henry's fortunes and misfortunes after he links up with the Biddall family as the show, which features a host of ghostly illusions, travels through the old county of Cumberland.

This is Irvine Hunt's second novel, following on from a well-received The Drover's Boy. His Factual books include Lakeland Yesterday and The Lakeland Pedlar.

He is a former Fleet Street journalist.

ALLAN TUNNINGLEY