Brief History of the Countryside in 100 Objects

The untold story of rural Britain revealed through its artefacts
'A really lovely, fascinating book. I dived straight into this clever, joyous, celebration of nature, history, and – of course – the countryside.' Charles Spencer, author of The White Ship

Reviews

‘A charming trayful of historical canapés, always and repeatedly surprising. Sally Coulthard is able to conjure a wonderful sense of intimacy with the lives of the past.’ Adam Nicolson
'A really lovely, fascinating book. I dived straight into this clever, joyous, celebration of the countryside.' Charles Spencer
'An unusual and ingenious collection of objects, each unexpected and always fascinating. Very enjoyable.' Christopher Hadley, author of The Road
'Beautifully illustrates the challenges people faced and the ingenuity and humour they used to overcome them. Relaxed and conversational, I couldn't put it down.' Francis Pryor, author of Scenes From Prehistoric Life
'Exquisitely detailed and informative. A heady joy that I am delighted to recommend.' John Wright, author of The Forager's Calendar
‘Explores how the artefacts peasants, farmers and craftspeople left behind, from toys to tools, provide a connection with our rural forebears.’ Campaign to Protect Rural England
'Informative and illuminating. A portable museum of a book that I will return to again and again.' Ruth Allen, author of Grounded
'Terrific. Authoritative but very readable.' Alex Johnson, author of The Book Lover's Almanac
'Terrific. A tasty box of treats I dipped into a few times every day.' Jim Leary, author of Footmarks
''Coulthard explores our rural past through a gathered assemblage of wonderful and intriguing objects.' Rose Ferraby
'You'll find it very difficult to put down!' Countryside Magazine Book of the Month
'Coulthard’s books are both well-loved and wide-ranging. … Eminently readable.' Yorkshire Life