‘The Wye Valley’ (1927) Ward Lock Travel Guide | Olde Timey Book Review
With a trusty Ward Lock “Red” Guide in their pocket, tens of thousands of British tourist travelled around these isles in the late 19th and early 20th century. In this OTBR I take a look at an example of one of these Red guides, examining the historical context in which it was written and its utility as reference material when travelling today.
‘The Black Swan’ by Rafael Sabatini (1962) | Olde Timey Book Review
Enticed by the vibrant cover illustration, in this Olde Timey Book Review I examine a 1962 reprint of The Black Swan by Rafael Sabatini.
‘The Shaw Alphabet Edition of Androcles and the Lion’ by Bernard Shaw (1962) | Olde Timey Book Review
In this Olde Timey Book Review I delve into a peculiar little printing of one of Bernard Shaw’s plays, The Shaw Alphabet Edition of Androcles and the Lion (1962). The history of its publication involves an eccentric author’s dying wish, a protracted legal case, and fundamental questions about the construction of the written English language.
‘Timber in War-Time’ by Reginald Davey (1941) | Olde Timey Book Review
In this Olde Timey Book Review I examine everyone’s favourite handbook on timber legislation in Britain during the Second World War, ‘Timber in War-Time’ by Reginald Davey (1941). While the text is admittedly rather dry, the book itself is an insight into a legitimate concern during the 1940s that touched many aspects of life, namely Britain’s need for timber.