[(The New Reading the Landscape: Fieldwork in Landscape History)] [Author: Richard Muir] published on

by Richard Muir

'For anyone interested in learning about the landscape, particularly for anyone wanting to go forth and muddy their boots to find out more, this is an excellent introduction…a guide to how to understand what is all around us.' - East Midland Historian, 2000

'this latest book from Richard Muir deserves to become influential with a wide range of landscape professionals. It should also appeal to the knowledgeable amateur and be required reading by all those responsible for developing and managing change in the landscape…Although covering a lot of material, the book is written well enough to maintain interest and to be re-read. It is ably supported by effective quotations, maps, figures and summary tables.' -Landscape Research, Vol. 26, No 1, 65-76, 2001

Overall, the title of Muir's The New Reading the Landscape: Fieldwork in Landscape History describes exactly what this book is: a guide to how we can use evidence contained within the fabric of today's countryside to understand its history. It is extremely well illustrated, very reasonably priced, and will form a valuable guide for anyone who is curious about the history of our landscape.' - Devon Archaeology Society Newsletter, May 2000

'It allows the reader to begin to make some sense of what the landscape mutely records about the beliefs and social patters of past societies. It is supported in this by an attractive format, clear informative diagrams and beautiful black-and-white photographs that vividly illustrate the landscape described in the test. The breadth gives a newcomer to the field a sufficiently good general introduction to the theory and practice of landscape history to be able to go out and 'try it for themselves', with the likelihood of achieving a fair initial result.

'The excellent presentation, the thematic arrangement and the breadth of the book means that…it will deservedly become a textbook for the next generation of students of the landscape. There is nothing else quite like it in combining the theoretical perspectives with practical hints for field observation and interpretation, despite a number of recent publications. It has filled a gap that needed filling.' The Local Historian, February 2001

'This completely rewritten version of Muir's earlier book about the interpretation of landscape, originally published 20 years ago, is exciting and compulsive reading. It covers a range of aspects of landscape history (or historical geography, depending on how you look at it) in an eclectic and passionate way, combining analysis and aesthetics in brilliantly fluid narrative…The book will be an ideal companion for teachers who themselves are keen on fieldwork and who want to know more about the heritage and the underlying sub-text of the landscape in which they and their classes go out to study and learn.' -Times Educational Supplement, 23 June 2000

Genres: Archaeology

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Richard Muir is Senior Lecturer in Geography in the University College of Ripon and York St John. He is one of Britain's most widely published and respected landscape historians. Two of his bestselling books on British landscape have won the Yorkshire Arts Literary Prize.

Reviews

[Johanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book, a really good intro to learning to read the landscape. Nicely divided into landscape types.

[Lee Broderick · Rating 2 out of 5]

A classic textbook on the subject but one I think is rather superseded by Historic Landscape Analysis: Deciphering The Countryside.