Microhistories: Demography, Society and Culture in Rural England, 1800–1930

by Barry Reay

This book uses a local study of the Blean area of Kent in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to explore some of the more significant societal changes of the modern Western world. Drawing on a wide range of research techniques, including family reconstitution and oral history, Barry Reay examines topics such as marriage and fertility, health and mortality, the work of women and children, and illegitimacy and sexuality. This book is an exciting example of the "new rural history", and will be of interest to rural and family historians, as well as demographers and sociologists.

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 1996

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Microhistories

Microhistories is an excellent book that introduces you to the use of microhistory in investigating British history. It used a particular area of Kent between 1800 and 1930 and uses as much archival records of possible. There is a mixture of written and oral histories that has been used to illustrate the chapters in the book.

What the historian Barry Reay does is use the technique of family reconstitution, which is a very useful historical research device. The technique, links together life events recorded in the registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials which allow for an in depth demographic analysis which is not possible at the national level of historical investigation. As a historian you have to take in to account that with all constitutions the size of the data sets do vary, and one of the negatives is that it misses the mobile sections of the population.

The way Reay has used the family reconstitution he has also linked to other records such as rate books and school log books, court records, tithe records, probate, poor relief (workhouse), newspapers and census data. At the same time as using all this data the author makes it very clear that this is not a comprehensive history of the area.

What this book is, is an extended exercise in the use of microhistory, where local history can be used for wider issues to be considered. It also shows that a microstudy can range well beyond geographical and historical boundaries.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to read this for my masters course. It was actually really good - I normally prefer the tall tales you get from ancient/medieval history, or the political intrigue and conspiracies from the 19th century, but this was really captivating. If anyone is interested in writing an effective local history definitely read this first as an example of a great study.

[Emily Lonsdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful for my MA