North Midland Country by J H Ingram was published in the winter of 1947-8 by Baisford. It describes this part of the country in post war Britain and is quite striking in places. He talks about the impending world famine and the effects of not only the Industrial Revolution on the countryside but also between the very wealthy and the government of the increasing "No Trespassing" signs going up and greats portions of the country being unaccessible to the English people.
For various reasons I am very interested in various parts of this country as some of my ancesters harked from here or else I am just fascinated because of the places I am familiar with now.
What I love about such old books are the perspectives or views offered up. This book is wonderful and "spot on" but I have read others that are so frighteningly politically incorrect that they are very funny. Well, maybe not but they certainly are a fascinating read until you get bored of such barbaric ideology. Something to be said for yellowing pages with an insight into how things used to be. But just to contradict myself, this shows that some things do not change:
J H Ingram speaks of the youth:
"There is a fresh, healthy, happy look about them, and a vivacity and zest for life which puts to shame the pessimistic remarks made by the old women of both sexes that the young people of today aren't what they were in their young days."
Original Comments:
I love old books like that, too - they're a window in to how people's views / needs / acceptance of everyday things change over time.
Kind of creepy in that it sort of turns out to be true.
I mention all this since May Day just came and passed. ;p
I think that hearing test is duff. Even without my hearing aid it claimed I was "within the normal range" too. I'm devastated.
I LOVE to read books, I could make a career of it, really. My dad was in England during WWII, it was something he engrained in my brain before he passed on because I kept assuming he was in Germany or Japan.
I just read a book titled, Anneliese. It was about a young Christian German girl during WWII. Slow reading, but it was informative as far as how they had to survive.
Now I'm onto the Vietnam war books.
Sorry for rambling again
Mmmm... I'm starting to dribble in my keyboard!
Of course they're not THAT old...
I love reading about the world wars and have quite a fascination with history (the 20thC especially).
It is definitely interesting to read the perspectives or views in old books.
I was also a bit tipsy, so I forgot to come back.
I'm back, and I've missed stopping in!