This is something we were discussing across on Creative Living, as one of the members wanted suggestions for reading the classic novels. This is my countryside version:
The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White.
Old favourites of mine: Lark Rise to Candleford; Still Glides the Stream; The Peverel Papers (by Flora Thompson).
Rural Rides by William Cobbett
Cottage Economy ditto.
Precious Bane - Mary Webb.
Wild Wales - George Borrow.
Wanderers in the New Forest - Juliette de Baraclai-Levi;
Traveller's Joy - ditto.
Juliette de Baraclai-Levi - Traveller's Joy;
Wanderers in the New Forest - ditto.
A modern country classic - A Moorland Year by Hope L Bourne, a redoubtable lady who copes on an absolute pittance on Exmoor.
Anything by Henry Williamson - especially Tarka the Otter.
Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady - an evergreen, for browsing and continual delight in the illustrations and notes.
Anything by Alison Uttley, especially A Country Child, which is my permanent bedside companion - the prose is superb and the countryside it evokes, haunting.
The diaries of Francis Kilvert, who was a curate in the Welsh borders around 1870-79. Again, a constant companion of mine and any biographies about him.
Anything by Thomas Hardy, because he evoked the countryside of his childhood in the 1840s and told a good tale . . .
Cider With Rosie - Laurie Lee, which I read first for Eng. Lit. at school.
A Small Country Living - Jeannine McMullen
A Small Country Living Goes On - ditto
Wind in the Ash Tree - ditto.
I am sure I will remember lots more later. What are your favourites?
7 comments:
The Magic Apple Tree, by Susan Hill ... always a favourite, I return to it over and over again, and of course, Thomas Hardy for his beautiful writing.
I will definitely look up some of your suggestions BB!
Willow x
A comment abt a book you had found in an earlier post made me wonder if you liked Mary Webb. I have read most of her bks and love her. Thanks for the tip too abt Dart which I will try to find. Course I love T. Hardy. Have read Laurie Lee and some of Levi's books as she writes on herbs too. In fact she came to a neaby herb conference at least once. Thanks for the tips on the other bks. Be well, Suki
I love all the books by 'BB' but he was a wildfowler and fisherman as well as a artist and naturalist so maybe not everyone's cup of tea. My favourite of his books is called Letters From Compton Deverel published in 1950 but written in the year I was born - 1946. He wrote some lovely children's books too such as The Little Grey Men and Down The Bright Stream - they are about the last four gnomes in England:)
Thank you for this list!
I would add The Magic Apple Tree as well. I do like Francis Kilverts diarys as well, in fact I like most of your choices.
Magic Apple Tree is a firm favourite, sometimes still do the cake from it. Richard Jefferies and his books, and what about Jan Morris - The Matter of Wales; an overview of the country....what happened to Jeaninine McMullen, her radio programmes were wonderful years ago, did she return to Australia?
Thelma
How could I forget the Magic Apple Tree - it is such a beautiful book and a firm favourite of mine.
Thelma - I don't know what happened to Jeannine McMullen. She wrote her last book probably 12 or so years ago now. I've tried Googling her, but no joy. I loved her radio programmes too. Richard Jefferies I've not opened for many a long year . . .
Rowan - my elderly neighbour was given a wonderful book by BB for Christmas (a grown up one). She said if she didn't think it was interesting, she'd get her son to take it back and change it. I was DROOLING over it . . .
Suki - I had Mary Webb's Precious Bane on my shelf gathering dust for many a long year, and gave it away, then heard how wonderful it was. Fortunately, my friend Leanne gave me a spare copy of hers which I now treasure. Superb writing.
Goosey, Nan, Willow and all - I think we all have the same excellent taste in books!
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