Books And Boots: The Story of New Zealand Publisher, Writer And Long-distance Walker, Alfred Hamish Reed

A. H. Reed's enduring contribution to his adopted homeland was as a publisher, writer and benefactor, but he is also remembered as a long-distance walker. Born in England in 1875, he migrated to New Zealand with his family in 1887. With little formal education, he transcended his working roots in the Northland gumfields to found and nurture the publishing firm of A. H. & A. W. Reed. The firm's first publications were for Sunday Schools, as Reed and his wife Belle were dedicated Christians. But Reed was also a businessman, and with his nephew Clif expanded his list to books on New Zealand history and culture. Officially retired in 1940, he continued to be involved in the firm's publishing policy and to write prodigiously, including books about his long-distance walks. He was also a book collector and donated the Reed Collection at the Dunedin Public Library. This biography offers an engaging portrait of 'Alf', his love of Belle, and his main contributions to the wider community. It also includes a bibliography of his works.