The Keen Countryman’s Miscellany – Peter Holt

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The Keen Countryman’s Miscellany – Peter Holt

The Keen Countryman’s Miscellany provides a selection of entries about everything that the true countryman, or woman, would like to know. You’ll find all things rural in this book, from profiles of great farmers through history like Thomas Coke and King George III to snippets bout wood-burning stoves, vermin control, canal trivia, how to grow your own mistletoe, superstitions such as the magpie rhyme and it’s variations. 

Packed full of gems this is a gloriously random selection of rustic ephemera and the perfect gift for the countryman with an enquiring mind and a sense of humour.

THE AUTHOR

Peter Holt is a former Fleet Street gossip columnist who spent much of his career writing a rock music column for the London Evening Standard during the 1980s. These days he manages his family property in Shropshire. 

Reviews:

‘…full of highly amusing tales and anecdotes… An ideal Christmas stocking filler.’ Fieldsports

‘From blowing up a wasps’ nest to why women catch the biggest salmon.  Indispensable erudition.’ The Field

‘Celebrates all that’s wonderful and absurd about rural life.’ Countryside

‘An engagingly eclectic collection of rustic ephemera.’  The Countryman

‘Entertaining collection of country snippets.’ NFU British Farmer & Grower

‘…fascinating and hugely entertaining collection of very random information.’  Shropshire Star

‘…nuggets of country wisdom to make those pub conversations a little bit more convincing.’  Cotswold Life

‘Drinking like a fish will take on a whole new meaning for this book’s readers… features include farmer profiles, conversation topics for country house dinner parties and numerous other rural snippets’