Looking and finding, and collecting and reading and investigating and much else

This is a book originally published in 1958 by poet, anthologist, naturalist, etc. Geoffrey Grigson to, evidently, evangelise the joys of antiquarianism to post-war British boys and girls. This is an expanded edition from 1970 (in its 1971 paperback impression). Already looking to the past, the passing of another half-century and more has turned the text, and the book, into things of antiquarian interest in their own right. For example, the addresses, to send off for maps and museum guides, seem more in tune than Dickens' London than post-swinging '60s London (as do the prices).

Styles change of course, and no one would write a book now the way Grigson does (would a modern author let him quote from Sir Thomas Browne's "Urne Burial"? and show more not only quote him but use hm as a kind of guiding star?)

If one can set aside the tone (academic uncle or friend of the family, genuinely engaged and engaging but talking down, somewhat) it rarely jarred as actually condescending (although of course I'm almost of an age to have had this 2nd edition new). Often, in fact, there was a story or nugget of information that was new to me, briskly and clearly explained. Nowhere more so than the outline of the geological changes to Britain since the last Ice Age, when it first became an island. The changes to the population are sketched in too, more clearly than I can recall seeing in any other introductory work. So it's still of practical value, I think. show less