Farm Life; Or Sketches for the Country
London: Saunders, Otley and Company, 1861. Cloth Hard Cover. Small Octavo. Good. Item #016718
. errata, 292p. A remarkable little book aimed specifically at the "Gentleman farmer" (or one who sought to rise to that status). After giving a history of English (and Colonial) farming, In the case of the latter, the one who owns the land owns the capital which allows "the white man..a means of control over the population" p. 70. Tells prospective gentleman farmer how to evaluate price of a farm, role of being a landlord, dealing with tenants, bailiffs, cottars (those given small cottage to live in exchange for their labor), hunting rights for game, agricultural societies. Much of this provides the substructure for the agricultural life surrounding the Great House as is exhibited in Downtown Abbey (or to a lesser extent Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover). Bound in green pebble grained cloth stamped in gilt, spine lettering gilt, covers rubbed, spine darkened, previous owner's name. A good copy.
Price: $135.00