
The listener is drawn into a lyrical trek that begins on the rolling fields of Northamptonshire, where the season hangs between summer’s heat and winter’s chill. As gunfire echoes across stubble and bullfinches dart among dog‑rose berries, the narrative paints a vivid picture of English countryside life, from black oxen grazing to the stark spire of a village church overlooking the historic battlefield of Naseby. Interwoven with these natural details are glimpses of the 1645 clash that reshaped a kingdom, offering a gentle yet compelling sense of the past.
From the solemn monument at Naseby the journey follows the modest spring that feeds the Warwickshire Avon, guiding us past wide‑skirted meads, ancient stone abbey ruins, and the quiet charm of Welford’s brick cottages. Along the way, the narrator—joined by companions P and Q—recounts the river’s winding path toward the Severn, revealing the layered history of the landscape, from medieval foundations to the bustling Grand Junction Canal. Listeners will feel the river’s steady murmur and the timeless rhythm of a land where nature and history flow together.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (104K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive)
Release date
2021-03-12
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1863–1944
Best known by the pen name “Q,” this Cornish writer brought both adventure and literary wisdom to generations of readers. He wrote novels and stories steeped in the sea and the West Country, and later became one of England’s most influential anthologists and critics.
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