History's been preying on my mind a bit lately, what with the deadline for the village history book creeping ever closer, then closer and closer until suddenly it's been and gone.History - it seems is stuff one knows, is sure of - but ha! perversely every known fact is like an island in a sea of uncertainty. For each bit we know there is something which remains a mystery. I wish we could just go back for the afternoon - to the c17th for example - just to find out what it really was like. No chance of that though - I'm stuck firmly in the here-and-now with a to-do list that appears to multiply like an evil bacteria.
Two years ago we put an exhibition together, D & I, and the inevitable question was - what to do with all the information we'd amassed? A book was the obvious answer and since then D has written thousands of words and I've chipped in with my two-penn'th of photos and maps. We've cajoled a friend into doing us some line drawings to illustrate those periods where only the imagination can now describe what life was like.
We've delivered, on time, to our publisher - giving him words and pictures on memory sticks, which somehow seem too small to hold the span of four millennia our book embraces.
17 comments:
Good luck with the book. A x
But there is no definitive history , everyone has their own version of events ,even teh mundane things in lief are seen differntly when seen from a differnt angle. SO, we have to gather what we can from thescraps of clues left behind and, in the end,fashionour own stoires from them.
Exciting and a bit awful too - like handing your baby over to someone else to bring up, I imagine!
I hope the finished book is going to be available to the masses?
good luck with the book, our village did on in time for the turn of the century, fascinating stuff from ice age to present day, the photos provided by villagers adding to the fascination of the last 150 odd years, the history of the farms, fields, lost villages, spooky tales and german bombers crashing in the sea. Love history and archaeology
and when it comes back as a proper proper book it will be as though you have indeed given birth to it and if anybody dare say one little word aginst it - you'll have their eyes out. Please may I come to the book launch?
Good luck with your book M., will it be available for purchase by the common folk?
How wonderful, to research and to write the history of a place, all whioch might have been lost otherwise.
I have finally caught up with you and read the last 3 blogs. Greece sounded lovely. I haven't heard the term scutter before but I like it. What a project your menfolk are tackling! Photos of the finished article please.
Good luck with the book. Look forward to it being published.
Ooh, will you have a proper book launch with wine and speeches and air kissing? Can I come? Seriously would love to read it.
Yes, good luck! We'll all come at the launch - signed copies, I trust!
H at h - true, very true.
Everyone very, very welcome - will make a BIG announcement.
D & I are sharpening our best book-signing pencils in readiness for a launch date of, oooh April 2010. Contain yourselves...
My history lecturer said, as a very first question; "what is history?" The man then looked at me, expecting an answer. Which was "I haven't the faintest idea, I hope you are going to tell me".
It got better later on during the course, until now I can't do without the stuff.
Wouldn't you love to have someone from that time at your book launch? I wonder what he/she would have to say about your book - what they'd say about the landscape today, the buildings and roads. What a project you undertook. Congratulations!
The very best of luck I would love to see it.
I know how much I enjoyed my small efforts but to get a real publisher to do it must be a great thrill.
Blossom xx
We have recently researched our family tree and have been totally fascinated by the elements of social history we have unearthed from census records etc - girls and boys of 12 and younger recorded as working in the mills and mines of Yorkshire and Lancashire - its one thing ready about it in a history book but something else when you find your ancestors were involved!! Good luck with the book.
Cor! Brilliant stuff - SBS has some volu-au-vents that need using up so we can finally defrost them. Excellent news, well done.
How fascinating. I love reading social history. Well done you and remember my invitation too!
best wishes
xx
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