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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: Dave the Walrus on Sunday 10 April 11 12:43 BST (UK)

Title: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: Dave the Walrus on Sunday 10 April 11 12:43 BST (UK)
Does anybody know of any literary works on rural life in Wiltshire in the 19th Century and previously? We have Thomas Hardy for Devon, which would equally give a good idea of rural life in England and Lewis Grassick Gibbon for rural life in Aberdeenshire in the 19th Century, but what about Wiltshire?
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: youngtug on Sunday 10 April 11 14:15 BST (UK)
Richard Jeffries and Alfred Williams         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Jefferies   and   

http://folkopedia.efdss.org/Alfred_Williams
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: Dave the Walrus on Monday 11 April 11 08:22 BST (UK)
Thank you very much for the information. That is what I am looking for.  :)
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: rachelralph on Monday 11 April 11 08:30 BST (UK)
i have found this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wiltshire-Village-Scenes-Rural-Victorian/dp/0904387623/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302506985&sr=1-1-spell

and this one but im not sure they are what you are looking for

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gamekeeper-Home-Sketches-Natural-History/dp/0554683016/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1302507055&sr=1-3-fkmr2
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: youngtug on Monday 11 April 11 09:06 BST (UK)
There is this; http://www.burbage-wiltshire.co.uk/historic/hudson.htm
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: youngtug on Monday 11 April 11 09:20 BST (UK)
"A Wiltshire Village" by Alfred Williams is about South Marston early 1900s. He wrote it including the unchanged names of the villagers, which caused a fair amount of bad feeling towards him. [quite a lot actually] Although for anyone with family to research from there it can be a little helpful.
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: youngtug on Monday 11 April 11 09:25 BST (UK)
Not sure which, if any of Alfred Williams books are in print. Swindon library have copies, although wether or  not  in the lending section. http://www.swindon.gov.uk/libraries
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: aginger on Monday 11 April 11 09:52 BST (UK)
Hi there,  I am pleased that my Gt Uncle Alfred Williams could possibly help in your question on Rural Life in the County of Wiltshire, in his writings. All of the books on Rural Life are available still,originals and reprints. He died in self imposed "poverty"his writing took over everything.
Much to my feeling for him, alas, he died before I was born.
Allen Williams, Williams Family Historian] South Marston, Wiltshire.  
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: Kim1980 on Monday 11 April 11 10:21 BST (UK)
Gallipot Eyes by Elspeth Huxley

It's about the village of Oaksey. It was written in the mid 70s but draws on the memories of people born at the edn of 1800s (including some of my family).

Kim
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: Dave the Walrus on Tuesday 12 April 11 08:56 BST (UK)
Thank you very much to all of you ( or as my mum would say "thanks ever so much") an expression that was never used in Scotland. There is more than enough for me to be getting on with at present and I find it fascinating that some of you are even descendants of the writers.

Best wishes,

the Walrus
Title: Re: Literary works on rural life in Wiltshire.
Post by: cuthie on Tuesday 12 April 11 22:05 BST (UK)
In the process of reading  A Scots Quair by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, the "action" taking place in Aberdeenshire.  I am so glad there is a glossary at the end of the book, as while I know a lot of the words, many if not most of them are new to me.

Cuthie