THERE cannot be many instances of a book being inspired by a play. But a West Devon author felt compelled to continue his research on the famous Victorian novelist, the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, after the success of a community play by a local drama company.

Baring Gould (1834-1924), whose family home was at Lewtrenchard Manor, was, in his time, one of the country's top ten authors, a writer of hymns such as 'Onward Christian Soldiers' and folk songs.

In 2007, The Red Spider Company performed a successful community production in Bratton Clovelly of 'Like A Buoy' — about the life and achievements of Baring Gould. It was written by Dr Ron Wawman, who himself lives in Lewtrenchard.

Ron, a retired psychiatrist and now a local historian and playwright, admits that if he had not come to live in Lewtrenchard , then perhaps the play and book may not have happened but, living there, he could not avoid the deep impression Baring Gould has left on his adopted village.

The book includes a full transcription of the diary of Baring-Gould, together with family bible entries and selected information gleaned from notebooks and letters, as well as Ron's own conclusions on many aspects of Sabine's extraordinary life.

'In popular publications, he is often dismissed as an irascible eccentric who did not know his own children, married a mill girl half his age and kept a pet bat! Although he wrote two volumes of "Reminiscences" these are mostly about his ancestors, places he visited and people he met. Very little is about himself and his family.

'Until recently, the difficulties facing would-be biographers have been compounded by a dearth of unpublished material in the shape of diaries and letters.

'With the discovery of a 20-year diary covering the period when Sabine was at the height of his powers, all that has changed.'

Ron's transcription and researches have enabled him to put forward some exciting, new perceptions of the life and character of Baring-Gould.

Now the book, Never Completely Submerged, looks at Baring-Gould's life in greater depth than could ever be possible in a play.

Why did he inherit Lew House, rather than his brother? Why did he write so many novels? Where did he pick up the many anecdotes that appear in his published work? Why, despite being a successful writer, was he always hard up? These and so many pertinent questions are answered in this book.

As Ron suggests, the present generation have much to thank the reverend for — indeed, the preservation of Lew House itself, built in the 17th century and now the splendid Lewtrenchard Manor Hotel, owns its existence to the writer.

Without his intervention during the late 19th century and his efforts in restoring the house it might not be here today — many of Baring-Gould's later novels were written just to pay for the upkeep of the property and the considerable works on St Peter's Church, Lewtrenchard.

Ron said: 'If I was asked what his greatest achievement was — it would not be Lew House, which in itself involved a lot of self-sacrifice on his part. If you ask the man himself, I am sure he would have wanted to be remembered for his folk songs.

'No, to me, it would be the sheer breadth of his main literary and historical works, the research involved and the popularity of what he had done. He was a prolific writer, producing not only more than 40 novels but umpteen articles on all sorts of subjects. A remarkable man.

'I hope in some way this book will help people understand something more of the man himself and perhaps, bring to the notice of the general public this truly great Devonian.'

Alan Payne, also from Lewdown, and a fellow member of the Red Spider Company who was much involved in Like A Buoy, said of Ron's work: 'This book in my opinion is a major achievement and makes an important and scholarly contribution to Baring Gould's life and work.'

No doubt the great man himself, the Rev Sabine Baring Gould, would have appreciated the efforts of such a work as Never Completely Submerged.

l 'Never Completely Submerged' is published by Grosvenor House. Copies available from Ron Wawman (to whom cheques should be payable) Lewdown, Devon EX20 4DQ, call 01566 783459 or email [email protected]">[email protected]. Also available from Bookstop, Tavistock, Launceston Bookshop, Launceston, Exeter Cathedral shop, Lewtrenchard Manor Hotel and Roadford Lake Café. Price £9.99 plus £2,59 p&p. ISBN 9781 907211 034.