The Countryman's Bedside Book
Published on 8. September 2006
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-873674-94-9 (ISBN)
Description
This re-issue of BB's classic memoir will be enjoyed by all who appreciate fine country writing, and who believe passionately in the resilience of Mother Nature, despite the follies of mankind.
Denys Watkins-Pitchford (better known as BB) wrote these wonderful essays on the English countryside in the 1930s - a time of peace and renewal between two world wars. The book was finally published in 1941 when, as BB puts it, England was 'in the darkest hour of our history.'
BB captures here in words and sensitive wood engravings the wonders of English wildlife and countryside.
Includes essays on:
ravens and rookeries
the stone curlew
the purple emperor butterfly
a woodcutter's house
an encounter with a wildfowler one frosty dawn
a night fishing on the Solway
the strange behaviour of song thrushes
the rescue of a black labrador
a favourite copse
the accidental death of a groom
village characters
hedgerows - and many more topics
Denys Watkins-Pitchford (better known as BB) wrote these wonderful essays on the English countryside in the 1930s - a time of peace and renewal between two world wars. The book was finally published in 1941 when, as BB puts it, England was 'in the darkest hour of our history.'
BB captures here in words and sensitive wood engravings the wonders of English wildlife and countryside.
Includes essays on:
ravens and rookeries
the stone curlew
the purple emperor butterfly
a woodcutter's house
an encounter with a wildfowler one frosty dawn
a night fishing on the Solway
the strange behaviour of song thrushes
the rescue of a black labrador
a favourite copse
the accidental death of a groom
village characters
hedgerows - and many more topics
Reviews / Votes
After the Bible and Shakespeare, this is the book to take to a desert island. BB was unquestionably the finest countryside writer of the last century, and here is some of his best work. -- Jeffrey Olstead * BASC Magazine * This book is a homage to the English countryside. * The Oldie *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Shropshire
United Kingdom
Product notice
With dust jacket
Illustrations
48 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
562 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-873674-94-9 (9781873674949)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Persons
Denys Watkins-Pitchford, or 'BB' as he is known, was born in 1905. He grew up in Northamptonshire, where he spent many hours out in the open air as ill health prevented him from being sent to boarding school.
He studied art in Paris and at The Royal College of Art in London, and for seventeen years was art master at Rugby School.
He was already illustrating books before he began to write under his pseudonym, 'BB'.
The Sportsman's Bedside Book (1937) was the first to carry these now famous initials, followed by Wild Lone, the Story of the Pytchley Fox (1939) and Manka, The Sky Gypsy, The Story of a Wild Goose (1939). He was awarded the Carnegie Medal for The Little Grey Men (1941), the tale of the last gnomes in England, which established him in the forefront of literature for children. Many titles followed for both adults and children, and his reputation as a naturalist was further enhanced by his contributions to The Field, Country Life and Shooting Times.
He died in 1990.
Denys Watkins-Pitchford, or 'BB' as he is known, was born in 1905. He grew up in Northamptonshire, where he spent many hours out in the open air as ill health prevented him from being sent to boarding school.
He studied art in Paris and at The Royal College of Art in London, and for seventeen years was art master at Rugby School.
He was already illustrating books before he began to write under his pseudonym, 'BB'.
The Sportsman's Bedside Book (1937) was the first to carry these now famous initials, followed by Wild Lone, the Story of the Pytchley Fox (1939) and Manka, The Sky Gypsy, The Story of a Wild Goose (1939). He was awarded the Carnegie Medal for The Little Grey Men (1941), the tale of the last gnomes in England, which established him in the forefront of literature for children. Many titles followed for both adults and children, and his reputation as a naturalist was further enhanced by his contributions to The Field, Country Life and Shooting Times.
He died in 1990.
He studied art in Paris and at The Royal College of Art in London, and for seventeen years was art master at Rugby School.
He was already illustrating books before he began to write under his pseudonym, 'BB'.
The Sportsman's Bedside Book (1937) was the first to carry these now famous initials, followed by Wild Lone, the Story of the Pytchley Fox (1939) and Manka, The Sky Gypsy, The Story of a Wild Goose (1939). He was awarded the Carnegie Medal for The Little Grey Men (1941), the tale of the last gnomes in England, which established him in the forefront of literature for children. Many titles followed for both adults and children, and his reputation as a naturalist was further enhanced by his contributions to The Field, Country Life and Shooting Times.
He died in 1990.
Denys Watkins-Pitchford, or 'BB' as he is known, was born in 1905. He grew up in Northamptonshire, where he spent many hours out in the open air as ill health prevented him from being sent to boarding school.
He studied art in Paris and at The Royal College of Art in London, and for seventeen years was art master at Rugby School.
He was already illustrating books before he began to write under his pseudonym, 'BB'.
The Sportsman's Bedside Book (1937) was the first to carry these now famous initials, followed by Wild Lone, the Story of the Pytchley Fox (1939) and Manka, The Sky Gypsy, The Story of a Wild Goose (1939). He was awarded the Carnegie Medal for The Little Grey Men (1941), the tale of the last gnomes in England, which established him in the forefront of literature for children. Many titles followed for both adults and children, and his reputation as a naturalist was further enhanced by his contributions to The Field, Country Life and Shooting Times.
He died in 1990.