Kirjahaku

Somerset, one of England's most rural counties, has for centuries depended on agriculture for much of its income. At the time these photographs were taken much of the county was suffering a downturn in agricultural output. A series of disastrous harvests in the 1880s and the loss of the corn laws. The poverty and hardship on the land forced many to see alternative employment in the town. This book looks at this county as it was a century ago. Some of the best old photographs available have been collected together and reproduced here, in sepia, with an accompanying text made up of extracts gathered from contemporary writing from all over the county. Thus some evocative sights of old Somerset, from the seaside at Weston Super Mare to the elegance of Georgian Bath, are brought to life in these pages.

The story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has a fascination which is universal. But the story is not only popular, it is controversial. Historians take diametrically opposed views on its central fi gure, King Arthur, for the written sources are few and diffi cult to interpret with certainty. As a contribution to the debate, this book traces the growth of the legend of King Arthur and its link with the West Country, bringing together archaeology, early and relatively late written sources, tradition and myth. It focuses in particular on the ancient Abbey of Glastonbury and the South Cadbury hillfort, one a possible link with the Dark Age Arthur, the other well known for its exploitation of the hero king and the Grail legend. By seeking to explain the Arthurian legend in its true context, this intriguing volume will interest not only the general reader but also the student of medieval history, archaeology or literature. First published in 1988, this newly revised and updated book contains a great many photos, maps, plans and illustrations, including colour plates.