High Street by Eric Ravilious

by J.M. Richards

First published in 1938, this classic book introduces the British high street, pairing the timeless illustrations of beloved artist Eric Ravilious with an engaging text by architectural historian J. M. Richards. Shops include the family butcher, the cheesemonger, the knife grinder, and the oyster bar. Only 2,000 copies of the original book were printed before the lithographic plates were destroyed in the London Blitz during World War II. As a result, it has become one of the most collectible of all artist’s books from this period. This beautiful facsimile edition features Ravilious’s illustrations in exquisite color and includes an essay by V&A curator Gill Saunders, putting the book and its history into context.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, British Literature

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1938

About the author

James Maude Richards, a British architectural writer.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This re-issue of High Street is worth it for the superb art of Eric Ravilious. Originally this was sold as a childrens book but was popular with adults for the artwork which one newspaper remarked as being a feast for the eyes.

Beautiful artwork, highly recommend.

[Jacob Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great short read of the high street back in the 30s, some businesses still here but many long gone. back in the day when trades were local

[Catherine Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this for the superb illustrations by Eric Ravilious. A forgotten age of high street shops.

[Read in Space · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently reading, half way through and love it already. Simply because I love the art in it.
Beautiful illustrations by Eric Ravilious, an English artist who is known by his countryside watercolour and war artist. In this book he used lithography, which is amazing as well as his other work.
The book depicted the high street shops back in time, it's very fun to read. The details in all the different shops, customers need, the trending style at that time. Through reading it, I can imagine I am time traveling and becoming a customer walking into the shops. I will enjoy the time traveling and continue reading it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up in London at the V&A. The Ravilious illustrations are wonderful, and the descriptions of each shop by J.M. Richards are charming (it was originally intended for children.) Reading them is like getting a glimpse of a long-vanished time (even in 1938, when this was published, many of these shops were disappearing.) Of course, there’s also the knowledge we have of the war to come that makes the descriptions of bountiful shops like the butcher’s and baker’s very poignant.
The afterword by Gill Saunders is very well done and reading it prior to reading the book sheds some interesting light on its history.

[Alison Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely glimpse into a way of life which has nearly disappeared. The images by Ravilious are lovely and the writing attached to each has a charm showing you a world on its way out at the time of publication and even further away now.

[Tabbetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely illustrated volume.
A delightful peek into another time.

[T P Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful illustrations. Quirky and colourful. The matching text is a little dull and didactic. Still a beautiful facsimile of a work of its time and a showcase for the art of Ravilious.

[Ed Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delight to slowly work one’s way through. A beautiful facsimile edition.

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated but a pleasurable, brief artistic and historic account of retailing at a time of change and evolution.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is essentially a child's introduction to high street shops of the 1930's becomes so much more with the wonderful lithographs by Eric Ravilious that accompany J M Richards's text. The book may seem somewhat dated, until you read that two of the shops described are still operating from the same premises. Butchers, bakers and pubs aside, the vast majority are shops which have disappeared from most high streets now, and this reprint may even come to be an indication of what the future holds in store (no pun intended), unless we begin to want more from our shopping experience than a cheap bargain that can be delivered to our houses, and make the effort to use the shops that we still have.

There is a very good Afterword which puts a lot of the places, and the ideas behind the book into context, (however there is mention made of a bookshop, which is strangely missing from the contents, even though it would seem to be an obvious inclusion). The text of the book itself made me laugh not only at its antiquated, upper-class views of goods and services provided, but also at the necessity of providing children with information concerning a Clerical Outfitters and an Oyster Bar among others.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for the Eric Ravilous illustrations, and they did not disappoint--ingenious, whimsical 4-color lithographs. J. M. Richards' text is oddly interesting for its insight into older norms of commerce and society. Who knew there were so many kinds of hams? Or that flour manufacturers provided flour to bakers to bake and sell bread under their brand name. Or that people buying drugs that could be poisonous had to write their name and address in a book at the chemists for future reference for the police? Or that it used to be common to go to an oyster house before dinner?

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. From looks alone, you would assume it is for children, but it not. (That being said, I'm sure older kids would enjoy this book.) The illustrations are really well done and capture both realism and a sense of moment. This books captures snapshots of how things used to be, everyday tasks and items that people never took the time to record. Great fun while educational.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

85

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very charming.

[Alan Fricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely thing. Purchased in as new condition for 10p at the library. A shocking give away