Böcker av Anne Crow

People have lived in this beautiful corner of the Cotswolds for thousands of years; Winchcombe's oldest surviving landmark is the nearby Neolithic long barrow at Belas Knap. The town itself came to prominence in the ninth century, when Winchcombe became an important administrative centre for the king of Mercia and an influential abbey was built.This book does not claim to be a comprehensive history of the area; it seeks to tell the story of Winchcombe through buildings, or less substantial clues, that can be seen around the town or nearby. Sometimes, all that is left is a road name or a piece of carved stone; at other times, there is much of interest to be appreciated.

This book contains a miscellany of songs, poems, sketches, stories and cartoons, all taken from the first trench newspaper to be printed at the Western Front during the First World War. The extracts have been selected, edited and organised to be a stimulating read, as well as accessible to a modern audience. The book is intended to honour those who fought and to remind us of what they had to endure. Some of the pieces are amusing, some angry, some nostalgic, and some showing determination to finish the job. Songs, sketches and poems could be selected to provide an entertainment to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the start of the Great War. The evening would be lively and enjoyable as well as educational, and the book gives plenty of scope for actors and singers to play a valuable part.

This generously illustrated volume is intended as an introduction to the poetry of the four Brontë siblings and their father. A good many poems and extracts are set in the context of their lives to make a fascinating read, even for those not usually keen on poetry.