No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper - Softcover

Harris, John

3.96

53 ratings by Goodreads

9780719561498: No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0719561493 ISBN 13: 9780719561498

Publisher: John Murray, 2000

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This volume recounts an odyssey through country houses in the years following World War II. Most had been requisitioned by the armed forces and, when de-requisitioned, were left to stand empty awaiting their owners' return. It was then that John Harris first discovered country houses.;Between 1946 and 1961 he visited over 200 houses. Hitch-hiking or travelling on pre-Beeching branch lines, he sometimes stayed in youth hostels, sometimes on straw bales in the houses themselves. No house glimpsed through the trees or up an overgrown drive escaped his attention. From these visits and from country house sales he became aware of the riches that country houses contained - pictures, china, furniture, marble fireplaces - riches that were in danger of being lost for ever. Here we follow an architectural historian in search of his quarry.

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Review:

`The demolition of these houses is a tragic story, but the author's battles with weather and hostile caretakers, and his discovery of unexpected treasures, are entertaining and beautifully written.' Eric Anderson, Sunday Telegraph; `The best non-fiction book that I have read this year.' Ursula Buchan, Spectator; `An intensely romantic, poignant, angry, frequently hilarious and hauntingly illustrated memoir.' Hugh Massingberd, Daily Telegraph

About the Author:

John Harris worked at NME during the height of Brit Pop and was Features Editor at Q and Editor of Select. He now writes for Mojo, Rolling Stone, the Independent, the Guardian, The Times and the Observer and has a regular column in Q.

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