England In Particular: A celebration of the commonplace, the local, the vernacular and the distinctive - Hardcover

Sue Clifford; Angela King

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0340826169 ISBN 13: 9780340826164

Publisher: Saltyard Books, 2006

Synopsis

Common Ground is a charity that has pioneered the notion of 'local distinctiveness': written by two of the founders, this book is a celebration of that principle. It presents an A-Z of the landscapes, buildings, people and wildlife and the 'conspiracy of nature and culture' that make each place unique. From Abbeys to Zig Zags, via Hare Pie Scrambling, Synagogues and Well-Dressing, in entries often accompanied by woodcut illustrations, the book explores 'the extraordinary richness of our everyday surroundings'.

About this title

Review:

It should be at every curious Englishman's bedside. (Alan Titchmarsh)

This book is a joy. (Monty Don)

A living portrait of England here and now, with all the narrative and mystery of the past attached ... The book is gracefully written, phenomenally knowledgeable, and simply exhilarating, speaking as it does of the extraordinary things that are all around us, if we are only prepared to open our eyes to them. (Fay Weldon)

As vital as it is joyous, and as timely as it is inspired ... It should join Shakespeare and the Bible as a "must have" on any English man or woman's desert island. (Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall)

An entrancing green alphabet ..."The land is our most elaborate storyboard," say Sue Clifford and Angela King as they demonstrate this truth in seemingly countless small essays, each one a brief masterpiece of combined natural and social history ... this is a book for all English seasons and for every English mile (Ronald Blythe)

This wise and witty and broad-shouldered celebration (it ranges from accents and airfields to wrestling and zigzags) is the triumphant fruition of their work with Common Ground. (Richard Mabey)

A magical celebration of English diversity and a much-needed wake-up call as we sleepwalk further into the dreary global monoculture. (Zac Goldsmith)

Angela King and Sue Clifford have been pursuing this quarry for more than 30 years and it would be difficult to imagine anyone encompassing more of England between two covers. (Adam Nicolson Evening Standard)

This is one of the most handsome books I've come across in a long while. (Paul Kingsnorth Independent)

ENGLAND IN PARTICULAR does everything that the ideal grandmother would, with equal charm and perhaps an even greater depth of accuracy and information. It should become part of every well-organised family. (Clive Aslet)

Book Description:

A magnificent, unique and ground-breaking book about English local distinctiveness, that will appeal to devotees of Simon Jenkins and Flora Britannica.
'It should be at every curious Englishman's bedside.' - Alan Titchmarsh

About this edition

• Publisher: Saltyard Books
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0340826169
• ISBN 13: 9780340826164
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 528