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Britain's Tree Story: The History and Legends of Britain's Ancient Trees
A lovingly researched and superbly illustrated celebration of Britain's oldest and most famous trees told through history, literature, and legend
Trees have always inspired awe and wonder and some of our ancient trees have been standing for over a thousand years. In this fascinating and lovingly researched book the author selects the most interesting of them and compares archive photographs and engravings with contemporary color photographs. Some of the trees featured have changed drastically over the centuries, while others seem to have hardly changed at all. Each tree has its own distinct shape and character which it carries through its lifetime. Many of the trees in Britain's Tree Story are still standing and there is a gazetteer of where to see them, including in various National Trust properties. Britain's Tree Story is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated celebration of Britain's trees and the intriguing legends and stories that surround them. Ancient trees are a living link to our past and they often provide a fragile constant in an ever-changing world.
Trees have always inspired awe and wonder and some of our ancient trees have been standing for over a thousand years. In this fascinating and lovingly researched book the author selects the most interesting of them and compares archive photographs and engravings with contemporary color photographs. Some of the trees featured have changed drastically over the centuries, while others seem to have hardly changed at all. Each tree has its own distinct shape and character which it carries through its lifetime. Many of the trees in Britain's Tree Story are still standing and there is a gazetteer of where to see them, including in various National Trust properties. Britain's Tree Story is a fascinating and beautifully illustrated celebration of Britain's trees and the intriguing legends and stories that surround them. Ancient trees are a living link to our past and they often provide a fragile constant in an ever-changing world.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
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106 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 27, 2016
Considering it's more of a coffee table book and I read it from cover to cover, I think that says everything.
February 4, 2019
It looks like a coffee table book, lots of big beautiful photographs of venerable and celebrated trees, but had more to it than images.
I enjoyed the writer's enthusiasm, but found his way of mixing history, fact and folklore without differentiating between them rather off putting. Perhaps my expectations were not right for the book, but where I already knew some information I found his lack of clarity and accuracy irritating.
Still, visually delightful and it may have taught me something about my levels of tolerance for opinion presented as fact and lack of detailed historical research.
I enjoyed the writer's enthusiasm, but found his way of mixing history, fact and folklore without differentiating between them rather off putting. Perhaps my expectations were not right for the book, but where I already knew some information I found his lack of clarity and accuracy irritating.
Still, visually delightful and it may have taught me something about my levels of tolerance for opinion presented as fact and lack of detailed historical research.
August 29, 2017
A little lacking in personality overall, but super charming in places. Trees are great.
August 19, 2015
Lots of lovely pictures of trees, and interesting quotes connected to trees. I found the beginning parts of the chapters in which a brief overview of a particular species of tree the most absorbing part. It seemed to me that either the author struggled to find alternate words for tree, or really liked the word 'sylvan'.
January 21, 2016
Very well researched book. one type error is the signing of the Magna Carta is 15th of June 1215 not the 25th.
November 7, 2016
A nice visual and textual catalog of each of Britain's old trees. I loved the legends/tales around each tree, provided in bite-size pieces.
April 16, 2016
An interesting book about the oldest trees in Britain, but by no means the best.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews