The Fens: Discovering England's Ancient Depths (Hardback)
Francis Pryor (author)- We can order this from the publisher
Noted archaeologist and television historian Francis Pryor provides an illuminating history of the East Anglian fens in this disarming account that merges the science of the dig with personal recollection. A paean to the steeples and soil of a land rich in historical import, The Fens is a wonderfully evocative read.
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week
The Fens are a distinctive, complex, man-made and little understood landscape. Francis Pryor has lived in, excavated, farmed, walked - and loved - the Fen Country for more than forty years: its levels and drains, its soaring churches, its magnificent medieval buildings.
In The Fens, he counterpoints the history of the Fen landscape and its transformation - the great drainage projects that created the Old and New Bedford Rivers, the Ouse Washes and Bedford Levels, the rise of prosperous towns and cities, such as King's Lynn, Cambridge, Wisbech, Boston and Spalding - with the story of his own discovery of it as an archaeologist.
Interweaving personal experience, the graft and the grime of the dig, and lyrical evocations of place, Francis Pryor offers a unique portrait of a neglected by remarkable area of England.
Publisher: Head of Zeus
ISBN: 9781786692221
Number of pages: 416
Dimensions: 234 x 153 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A fascinating account of a complex landscape by archaeologist Francis Pryor who has dug and worked its soil for almost 40 years. Weaving together strands of archaeology, history and personal experience, he paints an intimate portrait of the East of England's marshy and mysterious Fens' * East Anglian Daily Times *
'[Francis Pryor's] enthusiasm is infectious, whether he's glimpsing Ely cathedral from a train, coming across John Clare's grave or counting the bricks of Tattershall Castle' * Spectator *
'An elegant account of a region that, as [Francis Pryor] puts it, "has inhabited my soul"' * History Revealed *
'Pryor always writes well and entertainingly, and in The Fens he has created what should become one of his most lasting works, a personal, archaeological celebration of a region where he has family roots and where he conducted a lifetime's fieldwork' * British Archaeology *
'A heartfelt love story to the fens: a testament to their deep past as well as a concern for their ecological future' * BBC Countryfile *
Literally hands-on history - a deeply felt discovery of half a million underestimated acres from Lincolnshire to Suffolk... The Fens retains much of its brooding, enigmatic character and those who wish to understand its unique importance can now call on an articulate and avuncular guide' * Country Life *
'[Francis Pryor] interweaves his own personal experiences, the graft and grime of the dig and lyrical evocations of place, offering a unique portrait of a sometimes neglected but remarkable area of England' * Countryside *
'A wonderful journey into the history and archaeology of an East Anglian landscape' * Eastern Daily Press Norfolk. *
An immersive journey through the landscape, saturated with local history and personal insight... It will inspire you to explore the locations on foot' * Country Walking. *
'Part history, part memoir, it brings the riches of the Fens to the surface and shines a light on this much misunderstood corner of the country' * Waterways World *
'Extremely erudite, with a deep love for and understanding of the flat landscapes of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire (where he has lived for many years), this is the bronze and iron ages brought vividly to life' -- Jo Henry, BookBrunch
You may also be interested in...
“Another great read from Francis Prior”
The Fens is another learned, but not at all stuffy, opus from Francis Prior. He is at the very top of his field and is also a brilliant communicator of his knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject; in this case... More
“An easy read into the history of the Fens”
A really detailed yet easy to read accound of the deep history of the fenlands. A fascinating account of the social structures taken from the archological evidence, which ties in the present to people living three... More
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Alternatively, for multiple items you may find it easier to add to basket, then pay online and collect in as little as 2 hours, subject to availability.