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Country Bunch
A well-balanced mix of Nonfiction, General Fiction, Romance and Mystery in the lightweight softcover format preferred by many readers. Selections are a blend of international authors, chosen for the broadest appeal. There are also some carefully selected backlist titles by proven favorite authors.In this rich anthology drawn from diaries, memoirs, poems, novels, recipes, spells and even curses, Miss Read shares her astonishing breadth of knowledge. She takes her readers on a wonderful journey through the countryside with the help of Dorothy Wordsworth, Laurie Lee, Flora Thompson, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and others. Miss Read's world is one of simple country pleasures -- people and places, spring flowers and autumn leaves, outings and occasions.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1963
125 people want to read
About the author
Miss Read
159 books517 followersDora Jessie Saint MBE née Shafe (born 17 April 1913), best known by the pen name Miss Read, was an English novelist, by profession a schoolmistress. Her pseudonym was derived from her mother's maiden name. In 1940 she married her husband, Douglas, a former headmaster. The couple had a daughter, Jill. She began writing for several journals after World War II and worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.
She wrote a series of novels from 1955 to 1996. Her work centred on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.
Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, including the American writer Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.
In 1996 she retired. In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. She died 7 April, 2012 in Shefford Woodlands.
She wrote a series of novels from 1955 to 1996. Her work centred on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.
Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, including the American writer Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.
In 1996 she retired. In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. She died 7 April, 2012 in Shefford Woodlands.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2020
This is not an anthology of Miss Read's writing but is actually Miss Read's commonplace book, much like Jan Karon's Patches of Godlight.
I just read through Miss Read's canon; how delightful to read country poems, stories, and quotes which influenced her writing. She often references James Woodforde's 1758-1802 diary; I had marked it as something to explore. I probably got enough in this book to satisfy me.
Robert Macfarlane in his book The Old Ways, lists Edward Thomas as his chief inspiration. It was lovely to get to know Thomas better via Miss Read. He could not live a day in the open air without being given something to 'enjoy enormously'; clear weather, a flat shingle, a line of trees, the tallness of a church tower on a marsh; even a row of huts—he like what he saw.
I have a theory about commonplace books. I have more than a dozen volumes of my own. I write in my books, copying off quotes, for my own enjoyment. Years later, I read them and I am transported to the instance of reading the source. I remember the comforts and joys, the conflicted feelings, the grimness of this book, the greatness of that one. I often visualize geography associated with a book, e.g. I read Educated at a cabin in Wisconsin. My journals help me remember.
Another could read them with profit (I hope!), but they are missing the process of reading the source material. I think the delight must be diluted.
Even so, a book of quotations can be a great introduction to both new and familiar authors. And abridgments and anthologies have their place. We simply can't read all the books.
I just read through Miss Read's canon; how delightful to read country poems, stories, and quotes which influenced her writing. She often references James Woodforde's 1758-1802 diary; I had marked it as something to explore. I probably got enough in this book to satisfy me.
Robert Macfarlane in his book The Old Ways, lists Edward Thomas as his chief inspiration. It was lovely to get to know Thomas better via Miss Read. He could not live a day in the open air without being given something to 'enjoy enormously'; clear weather, a flat shingle, a line of trees, the tallness of a church tower on a marsh; even a row of huts—he like what he saw.
I have a theory about commonplace books. I have more than a dozen volumes of my own. I write in my books, copying off quotes, for my own enjoyment. Years later, I read them and I am transported to the instance of reading the source. I remember the comforts and joys, the conflicted feelings, the grimness of this book, the greatness of that one. I often visualize geography associated with a book, e.g. I read Educated at a cabin in Wisconsin. My journals help me remember.
Another could read them with profit (I hope!), but they are missing the process of reading the source material. I think the delight must be diluted.
Even so, a book of quotations can be a great introduction to both new and familiar authors. And abridgments and anthologies have their place. We simply can't read all the books.
July 26, 2023
Beautiful anthology
February 20, 2012
This is a collection of essays, poems, etc. collected by Miss Read, but not written by her. So I didn't like it as well as her stuff. I, alas, find poetry hard going.
May 22, 2024
This is such an enjoyable book. If you've not much time on your hands, this is ideal to dip into...a page here a paragraph there. It is full of wonderful literature all divided into categories. Poems about nature, paragraphs from some wonderful books, ....it's hard to describe, but if you like Miss Read's books or just like reading I can't see how you'd not enjoy this. But be warned, you will end up with a list of books you want to buy after reading the snippets Miss Read shares.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews