Surprising stories about the personal lives of English monarchs from Henry VIII to Elizabeth II. This book journeys through centuries of history to offer a wealth of intriguing truths about British royal domestic life, royal celebrations, and royal etiquette. Covering eras from the Tudors to today, it delves into the world behind the scenes, where the royals experience many of the same difficulties and disappointments as any commoner—but also enjoy the pomp and luxury that makes them an object of fascination around the world. Discover little-known facts about everything from coronations to abdications, palaces, princesses—and even royal pigeons—in this treasury of true stories.
This charming guide to the world of the English country house reveals all the essential hints and tips for living in and running a great house, whether you were lord, lady, maid or cook. By esteemed author Ruth Binney and with a Foreword by Julian Fellowes, creator of the much-loved Downton Abbey. Discover the rules of etiquette and manners that existed both 'upstairs' and 'downstairs', the daily routines of servants, bygone housekeeping maxims for everyone from the scullery maid to the gardener, and learn how to prepare for a grand ball. The intricate way in which the country house worked is reflected in the six chapters of this book, beginning with Keeping House and progressing to The Daily Routine and The Country House Kitchen . Since correct behavior was so important to all activities of the house, A Matter of Manners addresses the essentials of etiquette, a theme that also extends into Leisure, Entertainment and Sport . Finally Garden and Grounds focuses on everything from the cultivation of exotic fruit for the table to brewing and the care of horses and other animals. With beautiful line drawings, Wise Words and Country House Ways will be fascinating for anyone who has wondered what it would be like to be served, or in service in a grand country house.
Contains generations of advice on simple ways to run an environmentally-friendly home, based around well-known, and not-so-well-known, sayings. Everyone is keen to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve resources, eat and live more healthily. Ruth Binney's fascinating collection of traditional wisdom shares how our forbears lived well within the resources available.
This collection of light-hearted sayings, aphorisms and traditional wisdom mixes a variety of subjects, such as science, gardening, health, cooking and the countryside.
With the most colourful, poetic and picturesque country sayings and phrases, this title offers a nostalgic delight that satisfies our fascination for the now lost wisdom of our ancestors and indulges our obsession with the weather, whilst reminding us how our generation has lost touch with the rhythms of the natural world.|With the most colourful, poetic and picturesque country sayings and phrases of all the books in this bestselling series, "Wise Words and Country Ways Weather Lore" is a nostalgic delight that satisfies our fascination for the now lost wisdom of our ancestors and indulges our obsession with the weather, whilst reminding us how our generation has lost touch with the rhythms of the natural world. Probably the best known country saying of them all is 'red sky at night, shepherd's delight'. "Wise Words and Country Ways Weather Lore" presents us with dozens more similar, but largely now forgotten, words of wisdom that are imbued with a centuries-old understanding of the patterns of British weather, seasonal changes and the behaviour of plants and animals around us. It has highly relevant content for an age where we all feel we have lost touch with the patterns of nature.
A fascinating collection of animal and plant truths, tales, and traditions from the author of Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: Royal Family Life. Trying to understand the ways of the natural world has been a human preoccupation since the earliest times. The knowledge of which animals were helpful and which were dangerous, which plants had the power to heal and soothe and which to harm and kill was of obvious importance, not only to learn, but to remember and pass on. It is therefore hardly surprising that from all corners of the earth, a wealth of stories, signs, symbols, myths and legends about animals and plants have been passed down to us. There are sound principles in some of the traditional advice, wisdom in many of the stories and observations of nature, but there are also highly fanciful superstitions, tall stories and amusing anecdotes. Ruth Binney has collected them all into this entertaining and fascinating volume. There are intriguing tales of everything from mythical monsters and magical plants to domestic pets and humble weeds, as well as generations of advice, both sound and dubious, from age-old country remedies to predicting the weather through the observation of nature. “Whether read from cover to cover in one sitting or dipped into from time to time, there is plenty here to entertain.” —Blackmore Vale Magazine “This is the sort of book that you dip into merely intending to linger for a few minutes, only to find yourself staying for an hour.” —Dorset Magazine
If you've ever wondered whether carrots improve your vision (they do) and why elephants have great memories, consult A Word to the Wise. You'll discover that it's never too late to learn from a proverb or an old wives' tale. This captivating book is a fascinating compilation of age-old expressions and customs, and its insights cover everything from health tips and kitchen tricks to gardening know-how and hints for predicting the weather. Folklorist Ruth Binney explains the truth behind such traditions as polishing windows with newspaper and blowing out birthday candles in a single breath. She also discusses whether classic adages are still relevant or, like eating oysters only in "R" months, their truths have faded with the passage of time. This charmingly illustrated volume of enduring wisdom makes a splendid keepsake as well as a fine gift.
From time immemorial, people have sought to understand the mysteries of the natural world, giving rise to a wealth of myths and legends connected to plant life. In addition to their imaginative appeal, these oral traditions offered practical advice about which flowers, trees, and plants could provide foods, remedies, and construction materials. This richly illustrated volume provides a treasury of ancient wisdom, exploring the sound principles behind traditional advice, along with a wealth of fanciful beliefs. Naturalist Ruth Binney recounts charming examples of floral symbolism, linking roses with romance, lilies with purity, and poppies with sleep. She examines tree lore and the association of trees with wisdom and knowledge, from the coveted crown of laurel awarded to ancient Greek poets and Roman generals to the palm branches presented to pilgrims returning from the Holy Land. A survey of the power of plants ranges from the rituals that ensure a good harvest and a newly married couple's fertility to the healing qualities of oil of cloves for toothache, cherries for gout, and aloe vera for burns. Abounding in fascinating facts and fancies, this absorbing compilation will captivate lovers of plants and gardens.
What makes owls wise and foxes sly? How did the lion become the king of beasts, and why do serpents symbolize evil? This survey of legends, folk tales, myths, and superstitions chronicles the human fascination with the animal kingdom. Assembled by a noted naturalist, Ruth Binney, this charmingly illustrated collection abounds in animal lore from around the world and throughout history. Binney provides captivating examples of attempts to explain nature's wonders and mysteries with animal-related proverbs and folk wisdom. She explores the historic associations of wild and domestic animals with kindling romance, bringing good and bad luck, and fostering improved health, as well as their roles in forecasting weather and serving as omens of everything from sudden wealth to imminent death. A gallery of mythical figures features dragons, werewolves, mermaids, and other creatures with supernatural powers. Brimming with enchantment, this compilation of folkloric traditions will delight animal lovers of every stripe!
A collection of generations of advice, old wives' tales, proverbs and country wisdom. It features tips and advice on a range of subjects; from cooking methods, ways to run an environmentally-friendly home and invaluable advice on your garden.
This is a unique and charming collection of cooking and kitchen-based sayings, proverbs and country wisdom. Containing the familiar and the unfamiliar, this mixture of practical tips and amusing anecdotes is the perfect addition to any kitchen. Ruth Binney explores the origin and merits of each saying, often proving that 'old wives' tales' are just as relevant today as they were in times past.It features tips and advice on a wide range of subjects from meat and fish to fruit and veg, cooking methods to kitchen equipment, all the time providing pertinent lessons in the healthier and much less wasteful ways of former generations.Illustrated with delightful line drawings throughout, Wise Words and Country Ways for the Cook is the ideal gift for any cook or nostalgia lover.
An enthralling book that not only satisfies our fascination for lost wisdom of our ancestors but also indulges the British obsession with the weather. Probably the best known country saying of them all is 'red sky at night, shepherd's delight'. Wise Words and Country Ways Weather Lore presents us with dozens more similar, but largely now forgotten, words of wisdom that are imbued with a centuries-old understanding of the patterns of British weather, seasonal changes and the behavior of plants and animals around us. It has highly relevant content for an age where we all feel we have lost touch with the patterns of nature.
Offers health tips, kitchen tricks, gardening know-how, and even predicting the weather. Helping to discover that it's never too late to learn from experience, this work presents a variety of traditional sayings, superstitions and axioms and explains whether, and why, they still work.|This is a fully illustrated edition of this unique and fascinating storehouse of accumulated wisdom; from health tips and kitchen tricks to gardening know-how, and even predicting the weather. Ruth Binney has brought together a fascinating variety of traditional sayings, superstitions and axioms and explains whether, and why, they still work today. Before dismissing a well-known proverb as an old wives' tale, consult "Wise Words and Country Ways" and discover that it's never too late to learn from experience. Charming illustrations throughout, captivating content, attractive format and a great price make this the perfect gift for anyone interested in country life.
PLACES & PEOPLES: GENERAL INTEREST. "Amazing & Extraordinary Facts about the English Countryside" explores the flora and fauna, customs and traditions that give the English countryside its unique charm and special identity. From the standing stones and carvings of our ancestors to the modern farming methods and woodland management of today, discover hundreds of fascinating facts about rural England. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.
Why should you throw washing-up water on lilies? Will gravel deter slugs and snails? Why is water the life and soul of the garden? Does a wet summer bring on tomato blight? The Gardener's Wise Words and Country Ways is a unique and captivating collection of accumulated wisdom, proverbs and superstitions, encapsulating everything that makes gardening so appealing. Ruth Binney beautifully conveys the emotions that gardens evoke, as well as addressing the practical tasks that gardeners undertake. Here you will find good old-fashioned advice, as well as plenty of up-to-date information on everything from being aware of the seasons and wildlife in your garden, to growing better fruit, vegetables, herbs and trees. Famous gardening names who share their knowledge include Vita Sackville-West, Gertrude Jekyll and Robert Thompson, but also presented are the voices of ordinary gardeners, whose experiences come alive in their sayings, prose and poetry.
Fun facts about rural England, including lost villages, where to find orchids and fossils, the lives of shepherds, and the truth behind crop circles. Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: The English Countryside explores the flora and fauna, customs and traditions that give the English countryside its unique charm and special identity. From the standing stones and carvings of our ancestors to the modern farming methods and woodland management of today, discover hundreds of fascinating facts about rural England. Brief, accessible, and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.
From time immemorial, people have sought to understand the mysteries of the natural world, giving rise to a wealth of myths and legends connected to plant life. In addition to their imaginative appeal, these oral traditions offered practical advice about which flowers, trees, and plants could provide foods, remedies, and construction materials. This richly illustrated volume provides a treasury of ancient wisdom, exploring the sound principles behind traditional advice, along with a wealth of fanciful beliefs. Naturalist Ruth Binney recounts charming examples of floral symbolism, linking roses with romance, lilies with purity, and poppies with sleep. She examines tree lore and the association of trees with wisdom and knowledge, from the coveted crown of laurel awarded to ancient Greek poets and Roman generals to the palm branches presented to pilgrims returning from the Holy Land. A survey of the power of plants ranges from the rituals that ensure a good harvest and a newly married couple's fertility to the healing qualities of oil of cloves for toothache, cherries for gout, and aloe vera for burns. Abounding in fascinating facts and fancies, this absorbing compilation will captivate lovers of plants and gardens.
What makes owls wise and foxes sly? How did the lion become the king of beasts, and why do serpents symbolize evil? This survey of legends, folk tales, myths, and superstitions chronicles the human fascination with the animal kingdom. Assembled by a noted naturalist, Ruth Binney, this charmingly illustrated collection abounds in animal lore from around the world and throughout history. Binney provides captivating examples of attempts to explain nature's wonders and mysteries with animal-related proverbs and folk wisdom. She explores the historic associations of wild and domestic animals with kindling romance, bringing good and bad luck, and fostering improved health, as well as their roles in forecasting weather and serving as omens of everything from sudden wealth to imminent death. A gallery of mythical figures features dragons, werewolves, mermaids, and other creatures with supernatural powers. Brimming with enchantment, this compilation of folkloric traditions will delight animal lovers of every stripe!
This collection of light-hearted sayings, aphorisms and traditional wisdom mixes a variety of subjects, such as science, gardening, health, cooking and the countryside.
If you've ever wondered whether carrots improve your vision (they do) and why elephants have great memories, consult A Word to the Wise. You'll discover that it's never too late to learn from a proverb or an old wives' tale. This captivating book is a fascinating compilation of age-old expressions and customs, and its insights cover everything from health tips and kitchen tricks to gardening know-how and hints for predicting the weather. Folklorist Ruth Binney explains the truth behind such traditions as polishing windows with newspaper and blowing out birthday candles in a single breath. She also discusses whether classic adages are still relevant or, like eating oysters only in "R" months, their truths have faded with the passage of time. This charmingly illustrated volume of enduring wisdom makes a splendid keepsake as well as a fine gift.
Contains generations of advice on simple ways to run an environmentally-friendly home, based around well-known, and not-so-well-known, sayings. Everyone is keen to reduce their carbon footprint, conserve resources, eat and live more healthily. Ruth Binney's fascinating collection of traditional wisdom shares how our forbears lived well within the resources available.
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