Monthly Meeting September

District Court Judge Alan Goodwin, the Author of the novel Greene Lyon, will discuss his book on Sir Isaac Newton.

The novel tells the ‘true’ story of Isaac Newton and the falling apple, one of the great historical myths. The book combines real aspects of Newton’s life with entirely fictionalised parts and explores the murky divisions between magic beliefs and early scientific discovery. The story centres around Newton’s obsessions and secretive nature. He wants to understand the universe, which he believes is the manifestation of God’s power, but is haunted by darker impulses and a passion for Alice Cutler, a girl from his youth, who bears the mark of a witch. When Alice’s life is threatened by a witch finder, Isaac’s life unravels, driving him to scientific creation and a choice to banish Alice with fatal consequences.

Born in England in 1963, Alan Goodwin was educated at Friends’ School, a Quaker school, in Saffron Walden, Essex, before taking a degree in Social Science. When qualified as a solicitor, he practised Criminal and Family law in West London. In 1994 Alan emigrated to New Zealand and worked for many years at Corban Revell Lawyers in West Auckland where he became a managing partner of the firm. From 2011 to 2016 he worked as a barrister specialising in Family law, acting for parties and working as a Lawyer for Child. Over the years he presented at legal seminars and conferences. In 2016 Alan was appointed as a District Court Judge, sitting in the Family and Criminal courts in Manukau, Auckland. Writing has been Alan’s passion since he was a teenager; he is also an avid reader with an enduring love of both fiction and non-fiction, especially history and biography. He has a particular interest in science, its history and impact on the way we live. When not reading and writing, or enjoying family time, Alan is a keen follower of sports, especially football (he is a lifelong supporter of Tottenham Hotspur) and has also coached over the years. Greene Lyon is Alan’s second novel. His previous publications are Gravity’s Chain, HarperCollins, 2006, and Working with Psychologists, co-authored with Llewelyn Richards-Ward, New Zealand Law Society, 2002.

The book can be purchased at https://quentinwilsonpublishing.com/product/greene-lyon-a-novel-by-alan-goodwin/