A new book has been released on the history of the Glastonbury Holy Thorn, with the publisher hailing it as a "biography of a symbol".

Glastonbury Holy Thorn: Story of a Legend has been written by historian Dr Adam Stout, and has been published by Green and Pleasant Books.

Dr Stout is a writer and historian, and has been a Visiting Research Fellow at the Universities of Wales, Leicester, Exeter and Southampton. He has written and lectured widely on Glastonbury and now lives in Cornwall.

The book's blurb says: "The Holy Thorn of Glastonbury is the stuff that myth is made from.

"Stories grow on this famous tree like fruit, and wrap around it like creepers. It's a shape-shifter.

"It's been Catholic, Protestant, Pagan, universal. It's succoured royalty, loyalty, defiance and subversion.

"It's been condemned as patriarchal and revered as a feminine spirit. It's been harnessed by imperialists and peacemakers and nationalists and universalists.

"It's stood for better times and better days. For Christmas cheer and better nature, for all trees and all nature, for peace and for hope."

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The hardback book has 156 pages, including 16 pages of colour imagery, and is priced at £12.99.

It can be bought via the publisher's website here.