Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside cover image

Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside, Ronald Blythe

£10.99

Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside, Ronald Blythe

Name: Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside, Ronald Blythe
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4312
Price: 10.99 GBP
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Condition Report:New: A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.

Catalogue Note:A flawless, unread copy of this expansive masterpiece by Ronald Blythe CBE, widely revered as one of Britain’s finest rural historians and country writers. Next to Nature gathers nearly half a century of Blythe's lyrical diary entries written from his historic home, Bottengoms Farm—a sturdy yeoman’s house tucked away on the border between Suffolk and Essex. The book has been showered with exceptional critical acclaim; Stephen Fry praised it for bringing the countryside alive with "all the charm, wonder, eccentricity and vigour of country life," while the Sunday Times named it a favorite read, calling it a "warm, funny and moving nature memoir." Pristine and entirely unhandled, this is a premium copy celebrating a beautifully preserved chronicle of English rural inheritance.

Next to Nature invites readers to step into a simple life richly lived, following the slow and rhythmic turn of the agricultural, village, and church calendar. Beginning with a pristine snowfall on New Year's Day and concluding with traditional carols echoing through a village church at Christmas, Ronald Blythe shares his intimate reflections from deep within the Stour Valley. With a brilliant blend of gentle wit, sharp observation, and deep historical awareness, Blythe meditates on personal faith, literature, art, historical memory, and our enduring relationship with the landscape. It stands as an unforgettable, soul-stirring ode to the rhythms of the English countryside and the timeless patterns of human community.

ISBN: 9781399804691

Book Condition: New

Book Authors: Ronald Blythe

Book Publisher: John Murray

Book Language: en

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Nature & Environment

Book edition:

Signed:

Book Pages: 480

Book Publication Year: 2024

Book Publication Date: February 20, 2024

Book Binding: Paperback

Illustrator:

Book Series:

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Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.