Life in the English Country Cottage

Throughout book, I did feel that the author was somewhat dismissive of certain dwellings as being classified as cottages, neglecting consider that language and meaning evolves. However, by the end I realised this was a somewhat unjustified opinion, and was more of a comment on the attitudes of the time. The book covers many aspects of the history of the cottage; I particularly enjoyed the detail on construction. I would strongly recommend this book if you are interested in the history of cottages.

From the pictures it appears to cover the period from the middle ages to the present. I have to say "from the pictures" because the print is so minute it is impossible to read - give a printing job to a imbecile and this is what you get. Don't waste your money on something so useless. A sensible printer could have made this a very useful book as the content is there if only you could read it

I am very fond of the subject and this book will allow me to get a closer view of the english country living. It arrived almost a month after the scheduled time previewed, but I am glad it came after all.

Interesting text and lots of good, colour illustrations. Has lots of good ideas for renovation projects, showing you how the end product should appear. The text is easy to read and if you're interested in house history, this is a nice, if heavy, bedtime read.

I was surprised by how much the country cottage had been shaped by influences other than the natural improvements in living standards and the use of local materials. Very interesting. I had expected a little more about peasant daily life given the title, but the information about construction was very interesting. Could only have been improved by a few explanatory drawings and copies of plans mentioned, particularly in the early chapters. Then it would have got five stars.

As always Adrian Tinniswood brings the past alive. A great book. I love all of his work. Shame it's now out of print??

Written in a very boring style, did not finish it

A very interesting deconstruction of the idea of the cottage, followed byequally interesting details about the actual lives lived in cottages up to and including the 19th century. Quite salutary for people who romanticiize its simplicity and oneness with nature. I like the way the story is linked with with the cottage in literature.

I was fortunate enough to obtain a hardcover edition of this volume, and the illustrations are wonderful! There are many lovely images of romantic cottage paintings, along with numerous black and white photographs that depict a more accurate image of cottage life. The text, which gives historical details of country cottage life in different time periods, is quite interesting. I often read English literature that gives depictions of the local cottages and their inhabitants; this volume will help me to have a clearer view of the life of those characters.

ミレーやコローが好きなひとにはぴったり。ちょっと古びた本だがそれも味です。どうしても懐古主義に陥ってしまう私にはぴったりですが、一般ウケはしないでしょう。。このころに生活していないから、いいなあ　などと甘い幻想を抱く事は百も承知していますが。。便利時代に生きていて、その恩恵も十二分に得ているからこそ、昔はいいなあなどと思ってしまうんだ！と言われようが、いいものはいいのです。。この本の絵画はすべて今にも動き出しそうですてきです。

Informative, well written, but a bit tedious

If you enjoy the minutia of English life, you'll enjoy this. Not as good as Tinninwood's "The Polite Tourist," but still enjoyable. Some very detailed architectural descriptions that needed more photos to support. Good but not great.

What a book! I wish I had been taught history like it teaches when I was in school. It is very engaging and I felt intrigued by the pictures. It is a very appealing book for a person who loves England and history and something about it made me feel like I should go outside and pick herbs and make potions . . . (not sure why).