
In this richly illustrated portrait of rural England, the author traces the fading world of country estates and the lives that revolve around them. Through keen observation and a touch of humor, he compares the English gentry’s retreat to town life with similar shifts on the continent, revealing how once‑thriving manor houses have become seasonal retreats, their influence on local communities waning.
Interwoven with anecdotes about village customs, old songs, and the everyday rhythms of farmhands and tenants, the narrative paints a vivid picture of a society in transition. Listeners will hear the echo of centuries‑old traditions as they explore the lingering ties between land, lineage, and the people who tend it, all while the author’s gentle commentary invites reflection on what is lost—and what endures—when the great houses fall silent.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (360K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chris Curnow, Chris Jordan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2015-03-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1834–1924
A Victorian clergyman with a gift for storytelling, he wrote across an astonishing range of subjects, from novels and folklore to hymn texts and travel writing. He is still especially remembered as the writer of “Onward, Christian Soldiers” and as a vivid collector of local legends and odd histories.
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