Rupert Newman has been actively involved in carpentry since the age of 12. Having completed a degree in naval architecture, he began work as a carpenter and shipwright, but soon came to realise his true passion was building house frames, roofs and other large structures. He founded Westwind Oak Buildings in the late 1980s, a company that specialises in building modern structures with green oak in the traditional way. Rupert is the chairman of the Oak Frame Training Forum and vice chairman of the Carpenters Fellowship, and was integral in establishing the NVQ in Structural Post & Beam Carpentry. Rupert’s infectious enthusiasm for his subject makes this book the ideal guide to the world of oak-framed buildings. His fascination with the techniques involved in constructing an oak frame, and his obvious love of the buildings themselves, bring the history, processes and buildings to life. He is based near Bristol, UK.

• IntroductionA Brief History of Timber FramingStarting OffCase Study 1: From Tragic Beginnings to a Triumphant EndDesigning FramesCase Study 2: The Minstrel FrameThe Structural Qualities of OakMaking Frames 89 Raising FramesCase Study 3: Oak Frame and Structurally Insulated PanelsThe Building EnvelopeCase Study 4: Sustainability at the Gateway CentreFinishing DetailsFurther ReadingUseful ContactsGlossaryIndex

Nearly 200 well-laid-out pages, clearly-written text,  finely-drawn diagrams and great photographs; at just shy of £25, it’s worth every penny. But does the author manage to be  inspirational? Let’s put it like this: if I were a young man, I’d build myself a summerhouse using this book, send photos of it to the author with a note saying, ‘Please Mr Newman, give me a job’.