One Man's England

by W.G. Hoskins

Book by Hoskins, W. G.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Richard Newbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was based on the author's TV series, "Landscapes of England", broadcast in the 1970s - I missed it and presumably now, regrettably, it is lost to the ages, like so much priceless stuff from the BBC's Golden Age. Nonetheless, this 144 page book is very interesting and informative, its chapters giving a brief overview of the dozen areas covered, drawing attention to the various human, historical, geological and geographical factors influencing the evolution of the landscape. The book is generously illustrated with b&w and colour photographs, and outline maps. The Midlands, most familiar to me, are well covered; the lead mining of Derbyshire, the iron workings of Black Country and the fox hunting landscape of East Leicestershire subjected to particular insights, befitting Hoskins' pioneering work at the University of Leicester, in local history and the history of landscape. Though often crabby and critical in his descriptions, the work is humorous and sympathetic throughout, and its final chapter, on the author's native county, Devon, find the best and most affectionate portrait of our wonderful country.

[Dr Susan Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

In fact I just finished EnglishLandscapes, his earlier BBC paperback on the same theme , 120 pages but poorly bound. Nothing poor about his thoughts and opinions on the continuity of English lands since prehistoric times. His concentration onFenland, Cornwall and Dorset mainly misses my part of England but I learnt a lot about places I've been and many I haven't. Now for this one.