England in the Days of Old

audiobook

England in the Days of Old

by William Andrews

EN·~5 hours·25 chapters

Chapters

25 total
1

E-text prepared by the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org)

0:20
2

ENGLAND IN THE DAYS OF OLD.

2:03
3

Preface.

1:15
4

When Wigs were Worn.

27:19
5

Powdering the Hair.

14:04
6

Men wearing Muffs.

8:20
7

Concerning Corporation Customs.

15:27
8

Bribes for the Palate.

9:25
9

Rebel Heads on City Gates.

25:51
10

Burial at Cross Roads.

12:01

Description

Step into the bustling streets and cosy hearths of England's past, where everyday rituals reveal a world both familiar and strange. From the towering wigs that crowned gentlemen to the modest turnspit laboring over kitchen fires, Andrews weaves vivid snapshots of fashion, work, and leisure. Each chapter offers a bite‑size journey through customs such as bear‑baiting, Morris dancing, and the curious rites of midsummer.

The narrative reads like a lively conversation with a knowledgeable guide, sprinkled with anecdotes about powder‑filled hair, mummified Egyptian wigs, and the quirky laws that once regulated markets. Andrews balances scholarly detail with a chatty tone, making the origins of modern habits—like snuffing or the use of bells as time‑tellers—both accessible and entertaining. Listeners will find their curiosity sparked by the rich tapestry of ordinary lives that shaped a nation.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~5 hours (300K characters)

Release date

2012-02-17

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

WA

William Andrews

1848–1908

A lively Victorian writer with a taste for the strange corners of history, he turned old customs, punishments, church lore, and literary anecdotes into books full of curious detail. His work has the energy of a journalist and the patience of a local historian.

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