Nature Book Reader June 2020 - Flipbook - Page 60
A Nature Book Reader
NIGEL HOUSE
Co-owner of Rough Trade shops and farmer’s son
Shell Country Alphabet
by Geoffrey Grigson
Just recently reissued, this
book is ideal to have in
your glove compartment
on a jaunt out into the
countryside. In these
times of recession and
more with people staying
in this country for their
holidays it illuminates the
countryside that we too
often speed through. What
I really love about this book
is that it is obviously his
vision and passion, and so
has extra emphasis on his
home counties of Wiltshire
and Cornwall; it is also
occasionally spiky and pithy,
which adds to the feelings of
actually having him sitting
next to you in the car.
I didn’t know about W.
G. Hoskins’ Making of the
English Landscape until I
came to London in 1977, for
punk rock and geography
60
at university (in that order),
but it was on our reading
list and it has become one of
my favourite books. I read it
again recently having moved
to near Steeple Barton which
is where Grigson was living
when he wrote it, and it
is still fascinating, even
though he had no love for
the 20th century.
Further Reading
Making of the
English Landscape
by W.G. Hoskins
Hamlyn Guide
to Minerals, Rocks
and Fossils
