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Nottingham: A Biography
‘Seldom can so much scholarly research have been turned into such beguiling biography.’ - Sheffield Morning Telegraph
From Robin Hood to Reformists, lace-making to Luddites, and Boots the chemists to Raleigh’s bicycles, Geoffrey Trease leads us through the fascinating history of Nottingham.
Skilfully combining scholarly research with local knowledge and personal memories, this fantastically detailed account of one of Britain’s oldest cities has never been bettered.
Lauded by everyone from Sir John Betjeman to Alan Sillitoe, A Biography celebrates the ‘Queen of the Midlands’ in passionate and triumphant style.
‘I found myself so immersed in the story that Mr Trease's capturing text has decided me to spend a few hot summer days in Nottingham and see it for myself . . .’ - Sir John Betjeman, New Statesman
‘Anyone interested in town histories, and Nottingham's in particular, will want to read this book which, I believe, will remain a popular standard history of the town for a long time to come.’ - Alan Sillitoe, Guardian
‘He can describe an industry as though it were a personality. He makes us share his inquisitiveness about the lace making . . . the hosiery trade, Boots the wholesale chemists, Raleigh cycles, Player's tobacco and cigarettes’ - Country Life
‘Seldom can so much scholarly research have been turned into such beguiling biography.’ - Sheffield Morning Telegraph
'A first-rate local history that combines accuracy and close research with a high degree of interest and readability.’ - Birmingham Evening Mail
From Robin Hood to Reformists, lace-making to Luddites, and Boots the chemists to Raleigh’s bicycles, Geoffrey Trease leads us through the fascinating history of Nottingham.
Skilfully combining scholarly research with local knowledge and personal memories, this fantastically detailed account of one of Britain’s oldest cities has never been bettered.
Lauded by everyone from Sir John Betjeman to Alan Sillitoe, A Biography celebrates the ‘Queen of the Midlands’ in passionate and triumphant style.
‘I found myself so immersed in the story that Mr Trease's capturing text has decided me to spend a few hot summer days in Nottingham and see it for myself . . .’ - Sir John Betjeman, New Statesman
‘Anyone interested in town histories, and Nottingham's in particular, will want to read this book which, I believe, will remain a popular standard history of the town for a long time to come.’ - Alan Sillitoe, Guardian
‘He can describe an industry as though it were a personality. He makes us share his inquisitiveness about the lace making . . . the hosiery trade, Boots the wholesale chemists, Raleigh cycles, Player's tobacco and cigarettes’ - Country Life
‘Seldom can so much scholarly research have been turned into such beguiling biography.’ - Sheffield Morning Telegraph
'A first-rate local history that combines accuracy and close research with a high degree of interest and readability.’ - Birmingham Evening Mail
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2017
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About the author
Geoffrey Trease
175 books25 followersRobert Geoffrey Trease (1909-1998) was a prolific writer, publishing 113 books between 1934 (Bows Against the Barons) and 1997 (Cloak for a Spy). His work has been translated into 20 languages. His grandfather was a historian, and was one of the main influences towards Trease's work.
He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study Tales Out of School (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.
He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study Tales Out of School (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 9, 2018
Interesting history. Its light enough to be enjoyable for anyone but with enough information to satisfy the history buff and provide new avenues for study. I particularly enjoyed the comments on the crisis for the laboring population in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as that is the time when my great-great-great grandfather left there for America.
Displaying 1 of 1 review