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In this article, I republish a review of mine that was first published in Teach Secondary magazine. Next, there follows the article I actually sent in. The differences are only minor, but I thought you might find it interesting to examine the differences, and consider what difference they make, if any, to your experience and understanding of the review.
The Bookshop, The Draper, The Candlestick Maker: A History of the High Street
(Annie Gray, Profile, £22)
This might seem like an esoteric book at first glance, but it warrants closer inspection. Taking readers from the Middle Ages to (more or less) the present day, Gray charts how the places where we do our shopping and what we buy have changed over the centuries. Along the way we gain a deeper understanding of societal and economic history, alongside the references you’d expect to Pepys and other English classroom mainstays. In that context, it could provide some useful context when studying Austen’s Bath episodes.
There are sections in the book dedicated to specific trades, including the titular tailors, as well as examinations of towns outside of London.
Despite the huge volume of research that clearly went into its creation, this is no dry, academic tome. Warmly recommended.
This book was first reviewed in Teach Secondary magazine.
And now for the review I actually sent in…
At first glance, this book seems so esoteric as to demand that it be ignored. That, however, would be a mistake. Taking the reader from the Middle Ages to more or less the present day, Gray shows how the kind of places we do our shopping in, and what we buy, have changed over the centuries. Along the way we gain a deeper and wider understanding of societal and economic changes.
As well as the obvious connection with History, economic and social history (with references to Pepys, economics and, of course, English, in which context it provides a useful backdrop to Austen’s Bath episodes.
There are sections on individual trades, such as tailors, as the title suggests, and it looks at towns other than London.
Despite the obvious amount of research that has gone into it, the book is no dry, academic, tome, with useful notes and a detailed index. Warmly recommended.