About
Caroline's most recent project The Captain's Apprentice: Ralph Vaughan Williams and the Story of a Folk Song is a non-fiction exploration of the visit Ralph Vaughan Williams made to King's Lynn in 1905, a week-long stay which had a profound impact on his subsequent work. Published by Chatto & Windus on August 25 2022
Winner of New Angle Prize 2023
Winner Historical Writers' Association Award Non-Fiction 2023
Reviews of The Captain's Apprentice
'This is a hugely intriguing, sensitively woven and at times unexpectedly moving book..'
Howard Goodall, author of THE STORY OF MUSIC
'A sadistic murder and the staggering words of a song drive Davison's obsession to unravel this vivid story of lives, landscapes and musical inspiration. No stone is left unturned in the meticulous gathering. Her gift is a work of love and infinite care'.
Keggie Carew, Costa Award-winning author of DADLAND
'Davison's evocative, far from linear approach does great service to the composer...this choice ultimately releases the book's wide array of colours.'
LITERARY REVIEW
'Davison's animated, entertaining essay... is quietly sensitive to ironies and ambiguities without being pretentious, presenting a richly complex picture.'
DAILY TELEGRAPH
'The Captain's Apprentice explores a profound and complex seam of folk discovery...in crisply written pages.'
FINANCIAL TIMES
'The book makes for a quirky, fascinating read. '
THE SUNDAY TIMES
'I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and its weaving of biography, social history and folk song.'
Steve Roud, author of FOLK SONG IN ENGLAND
'The Captain's Apprentice ...is an important book. It might turn out to be the finest and most original book about Ralph Vaughan Williams to appear in 2022.'
John Francis , RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS SOCIETY JOURNAL
'...an immensely enjoyable, lively and thought-provoking read'.
Malcolm Taylor FOLK MUSIC JOURNAL
Blog
Caroline's blog on the first year of Vaughan Williams's listening journey into folk song - from the first song he collected in December 1903 (‘Bushes and Briars’) to the moment he heard ‘The Captain’s Apprentice’ in January 1905 - can be found here:
Bio
Caroline is an East Anglian-based writer and musician. Before becoming a full-time writer she worked in the heritage and conservation sectors for thirty years.
Her novel, The Pleasure Garden, was published in 2006, her children's book The By-Mistake Guide to Norfolk in 2012.
Caroline grew up in a musical family and has sung in numerous bands and choirs since she was seventeen. She lives in Norfolk.
