Red Sky at Night: The Book of Lost Countryside Wisdom

by Jane Struthers

How to navigate by the stars, attract butterflies to a garden, build the perfect bonfire, and bake one's own bread—an indispensable guide to everything people knew and loved before we went inside and turned on the TV  In a world of traffic congestion, supermarket shopping, and 24-hour internet access, it is easy to feel disconnected from the beauty and rhythms of the natural world. This is the book for anyone who has ever gazed in awe at stars in the night's sky, tried to catch a perfect snowflake, or longed for the comfort of a roaring log fire. Readers will learn how to predict the weather just by looking at the sky, how to forage for food, and how to make cider. From differentiating types of owls to gardening by the phases of the moon, and from curing a cold to brewing ale, this lovely guide is packed with instructions and lists, ancient customs, and old wives tales, making it an indispensable guide to countryside lore.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Folklore, Reference, History, Gardening, Environment

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Jane Struthers fell in love with astrology, palmistry, tarot reading and reading tea leaves in her teens, and shes never looked back. She is a professional, full-time writer and astrologer, who has appeared on television and radio many times. She is currently the astrologer for Bella, the best-selling weekly womens magazine, and before that she was the astrologer for The Sun, writing as Gemini Jane.

Jane has written over twenty books on a wide variety of subjects, but she specializes in mind, body and spirit topics. She trained as a healer at the College of Psychic Studies in London and has completed the first stage of the Bach Flower Remedies training. She teaches astrology at the London School of Astrology, and has also lectured abroad on astrology and tarot.

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Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable little book on everything about the countryside from wildlife types to plants cooking, herbs and thatching a roof.

Not brilliant, however it does make you want to find out more.

One for the shelf.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found some nice information in this book, such as how to identify owl species and build a fire. Some of the items are well known, and others are just common sense, such as how to dress to go out in the cold, and drink hot drinks and eat hot food first. Who couldn't think of that for themselves?

Much of the book seems too general - a list of names of British resident and visiting birds, without saying if superstitions or sayings are attached to any, or what time migrants arrived in past centuries or where they all breed.

The author adds her own interest in various divinations which were not really used, maybe by travelling gypsies who would tell fortunes.

However, the book is nicely presented, clearly written and suitable for young people as well as adults. Probably it's a good idea to store up and provide folk sayings and ideas, in case they get forgotten. If anyone wants to read more I recommend 'Apricot Village' by Ted Humphris, written by a head gardener in an English village / stately home.
This is an unbiased review.

[Kitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

pealkirja ja üldise vaibi põhjal eeldasin seda raamatut poes nähes, et siit saab teada inglaste rahvatarkusi - no umbes et kuidas ilma ennustada (seesama punane õhtutaevas, okei, aga veel?), millal mida külvata ja milliseid ebausukombeid võiks järgida, et saak ei ikalduks ega loomad nälgiks.

aga oli selline veider hästi suvaline kogumik hästi suvalisi... asju. umbes jah et üks peatükk selle kohta, mida teha, et kurat su leivategu hukka ei ajaks (rist leivale peale ja sellised asjad, eks), aga siis tuleb nimekiri Inglismaal leiduvatest öökulliliikidest ja siis leheküljepikkune õpetus rookatuse tegemisest ja teine lehekülg lapitekkide õmblemisest (kumbagi neist teemadest ei tee leheküljel just kuigi põhjalikult selgeks, eks ole). ilmaennustamisest oli väga vähe mu suureks pettumuseks.

ühesõnaga, ma ei saanud aru, kellele ja miks selline raamat kirjutatud on.

[Samuel]

There are lots of charming things here – bits of rural history, collective nouns for birds, info on pig breeds and some long-forgotten recipes. Sadly, it's all let down by long passages on topics such as tasseomancy (why?) and when to plant your garden according to the astrological clock. These aren't big bits of British countryside living, and they never were. There's nothing about hiking, and very little about fishing or forest-craft.

It's not nearly what I hoped it would be.

[Fern Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An enjoyable read of lots of facts and folklore on everything from plants, trees, weather, animals, celebrations and feast days to making your own cider. I felt a lot of what was included is common knowledge but it was still interesting to see it all presented together.

[Beth N · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to know how to brew your own beer, where to find all the stone circles of England or the correct names for a male, female and baby hedgehog, this is the book for you. A delightful little miscellany of rural traditions and knowledge to help you live out your cottagecore dreams - or maybe just win a pub quiz.

[Freya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book full of enjoyable and interesting nuggets of information to dip into.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title and book cover caught my eye and my imagination, even before I read the reviews and description. So much of what our forefathers knew about nature, and how to live without modern conveniences is lost. Children aren't taught the simple but wonderful things of life that are all around us. This would be a wonderful school textbook, as most children and adults do not have a clue about what is contained in its pages, and it would definitely broaden their minds and maybe help them to be better people, more prepared for hardships and enjoy life a lot more. Returning to the basics, and simplifying one's life is a common thread contained in the books, magazines, and tv programming of today.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read all about things we can learn from the nature around us and English folklore.

It's definitely not the kind of book you pick up an read in one go.

I can only give it three stars as I knew about a lot of the thnigs in it, but I can see how it would be interesting to others.

I also read another book similar to this that I preferred recently which tainted my enjoyment of this one.

[Natalie Panaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but....

The art on the dustcover caught my attention. And then the title: "...Lost Countryside Wisdom". I want to *find that Countryside Wisdom!

There are some tidbits of interesting tradition/superstition here, but much of it is not what I would call lost. Still a great book to have on hand for the esoteric book lover!

[Polly Pea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book, quick read and wholesome. Only 3 star because a lot of the information is pretty obvious and not necessary, whereas the interesting parts could have gone deeper. Nice book to share with the next generation though and as one other reader said “one for the shelf” I’m glad I bought it.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poetry of traditional life: if you want to know what to call a group of swans, how to avoid being hit by lightning, when to celebrate Lammas, etc etc this is the sweet book for you. A nice way to dream away the afternoon.

[Evi Winnubst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not find all the chapters/parts of the book equally interesting, but I liked the overall thought behind the book and the thought of being ‘unplugged’. Also learned a couple of facts from reading it!

[Lee Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite as interesting as I hoped it would be. I learned a couple new things, but most of the stuff was just common sense and superstition. Then there was a weird point where the author felt the need to whine about "political correctness"?? It just felt unnecessary. 2/5 stars.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simpática colección de historias, tradiciones y modos de vida del campo inglés (a veces expandiendo al resto de las islas británicas). Es perfecto para cultivar la nostalgia y preguntarme qué hago viviendo en una ciudad en vez de un lugar con árboles.

[Emma G · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of the nature knowledge we should have been taught in school, encompassed in one book. It will give you the want and the ability got go out and explore nature we always have - but are growing away from

[Lulu · Rating 1 out of 5]

The inclusion of the pages about fox hunting read like a ‘how to’ and completely put me off the book. Fox hunting used to be legal in the uk but it is by no means some ‘lost’ tradition that should be looked back on fondly which is how the author wrote it. Weird.

[Louise Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read with so much random and fascinating information! Lots of the info was bundled together a lot of a time but felt very much like when you visit a flea market or antique store full of random artifacts!

[Anjali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little bit of everything. Easy read. Some interesting facts. I believe there’s a fact or 2 new to learn for anyone that picks this book. For a non-British individual like me it’s a nice reading to understand the culture and the country a bit more.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my usual type of book but something pulled me towards it. I really enjoyed reading & learning things that now, isn't really important but in the past, some of this was vital information to live !

[Shar Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read

[Aimee Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some parts of the book were fascinating, particularly about bees. But some bits, such as the lists, were easily flicked through and a little boring. But overall a nice book.

[Joel Meador · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exceedingly interesting and exceedingly british and I'll probably get a copy of my own just because it has a disparate set of information it would be cool to have around.

[Amy oh god why!!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic snippets of random information from recipes to how to build a compost heap

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started really good but by the end I was bored by it and some information was wrong

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Encyclopedic knowledge of the countryside. Sometimes more than you would want to know! Useful lists of names for groups of birds, seasonal foods, saints days. An eclectic mix.

[Christine Pilcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading

This is great reading. It tells you so much about how things were in the past for ordinary people and how they thought about their world and their surroundings.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this so much definitely going to incorporate historical methods irl