Folio Archives 159: Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford 1997
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1wcarter
Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford 1997
This small format book is an absolute delight, not only to see but to touch and smell. Quarter bound in light blue cloth, the boards were hand marbled by the incomparable Ann Muir, making each book a work of art in itself. The covers are amazingly tactile – the same sensation as gently running your finger over the surface of a watercolour painting, and that’s because it actually is a painting.
The book is the perfect bedside reading, as it is the ultimate soporific. With paragraphs that may run for three pages, intricate descriptions, and a slow pace that is probably more leisurely than any other book I have read, it would have to be a very determined reader who did not feel their eyelids drooping within a dozen pages.
The book describes everyday life in a very quiet, small English village between 1824 and 1832 (Three Mile Cross, a hamlet south-east of Reading). Chapters vary from character analyses of village residents to tales about inter-village cricket matches, romances, visiting gypsy fortune tellers, balls in the local manse and rural walks.
The 423 pages of the book are decorated with 25 interspersed wood engravings, head and tail pieces by Joan Hassall. There is an eleven page introduction by Ronald Blythe. The endpapers, page top stain and slipcase (21x14.8cm.) are dark green.
The book is one of a series of six similarly bound volumes on 19th.C English life. The other books in the series are :-
- Memoirs of a Georgian Rake by William Hickey
- Natural History & Antiquities of Selborne.
- Rides Around Britain by John Byng
- The Diary of a Country Parson (the one I do not own in a FS edition, but I do have in another edition)
- The Diary of a Village Shopkeeper by Thomas Turner
Other Rural Britain Hand Marbled series books that I own
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
This small format book is an absolute delight, not only to see but to touch and smell. Quarter bound in light blue cloth, the boards were hand marbled by the incomparable Ann Muir, making each book a work of art in itself. The covers are amazingly tactile – the same sensation as gently running your finger over the surface of a watercolour painting, and that’s because it actually is a painting.
The book is the perfect bedside reading, as it is the ultimate soporific. With paragraphs that may run for three pages, intricate descriptions, and a slow pace that is probably more leisurely than any other book I have read, it would have to be a very determined reader who did not feel their eyelids drooping within a dozen pages.
The book describes everyday life in a very quiet, small English village between 1824 and 1832 (Three Mile Cross, a hamlet south-east of Reading). Chapters vary from character analyses of village residents to tales about inter-village cricket matches, romances, visiting gypsy fortune tellers, balls in the local manse and rural walks.
The 423 pages of the book are decorated with 25 interspersed wood engravings, head and tail pieces by Joan Hassall. There is an eleven page introduction by Ronald Blythe. The endpapers, page top stain and slipcase (21x14.8cm.) are dark green.
The book is one of a series of six similarly bound volumes on 19th.C English life. The other books in the series are :-
- Memoirs of a Georgian Rake by William Hickey
- Natural History & Antiquities of Selborne.
- Rides Around Britain by John Byng
- The Diary of a Country Parson (the one I do not own in a FS edition, but I do have in another edition)
- The Diary of a Village Shopkeeper by Thomas Turner
Other Rural Britain Hand Marbled series books that I own
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2boldface
I think this is one of the most pleasing series to be published by the Folio Society. Joan Hassall's engravings, taken from another edition, are exquisite. Great though Warwick's photos are, there is more subtle and fine detail in the engravings, particularly the darker ones, than appears here. Like Warwick with Country Parson, I initially held off from Selborne, as I already had other editions, including, when it came out, the beautiful if rather large FS Fine Edition. I'm glad, though, I finally relented and went on to complete the set - almost worth it for the vivid marbling alone.
3wcarter
>2 boldface:
Challenge accepted!
Detailed views of some of the engravings have been added to the end of the review.
Challenge accepted!
Detailed views of some of the engravings have been added to the end of the review.
6Willoyd
>2 boldface:
I have both editions too, and have had others in the past, but this is my favourite. They are just perfection when it comes to classic binding and illustration - and the content isn't bad either!
I have both editions too, and have had others in the past, but this is my favourite. They are just perfection when it comes to classic binding and illustration - and the content isn't bad either!
7boldface
>3 wcarter:
Challenge passed with flying colours! Thank you.
Edited to add:
They look fantastic enlarged. The detail is phenomenal. And what a master (mistress?) of back-lighting she was.
Challenge passed with flying colours! Thank you.
Edited to add:
They look fantastic enlarged. The detail is phenomenal. And what a master (mistress?) of back-lighting she was.
8folio_books
>1 wcarter:
>7 boldface:
You guys have inspired me. It's lain neglected on my bookshelf for many a year but tonight she's accompanying me to bed. Joan Hassal, as I may possibly have mentioned before, is one of my favourite Folio illustrators so when I can feel my head nodding because of the text I can just take a look at Joan's sumptuous engravings. Thanks for the nudge.
>7 boldface:
You guys have inspired me. It's lain neglected on my bookshelf for many a year but tonight she's accompanying me to bed. Joan Hassal, as I may possibly have mentioned before, is one of my favourite Folio illustrators so when I can feel my head nodding because of the text I can just take a look at Joan's sumptuous engravings. Thanks for the nudge.
9wcarter
>7 boldface:
I agree, they look fantastic enlarged, so I have added another ten to the review for your enjoyment.
She really was a superb engraver, and the small reproductions in the book don't do them justice.
I agree, they look fantastic enlarged, so I have added another ten to the review for your enjoyment.
She really was a superb engraver, and the small reproductions in the book don't do them justice.
