FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 & Extraordinary & original& Raymond Briggs& Sometimes it feels like I might be the only person awake in the whole country People might find that a lonely thought Not me& As the rest of the world sleeps the Gritterman goes out to work Through the wind & the snow Through the blue-black hours when time slips away he grits the paths & the pavements & the roads For him a life without gritting is no life at all A song for the unsung hero this is a story about stoicism dignity & a man leaving behind the work that he loves It is accompanied by the author&s own illustrations Listen to or download The Gritterman&s companion album featuring 10 new tracks by Orlando Weeks Available now on all digital & streaming platforms