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?
