Lucy Bettesworthorder this book
George Sturt
Price £30.00 hardback

Lucy Bettesworth is the last of a series of three biographical studies written by George Sturt on Frederick Grover (alias Bettesworth) and his wife Lucy. The book gives additional details of the lives of the Grovers, as well as presenting a number of essays on the dramatic changes in the countryside at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century. Because of its evocative and detailed description of the destruction of traditional country life, Lucy Bettesworth has a central place in an understanding of English rural history. Along with Change In the Village and Sturt's other books, it will continue to be a central work for students of the history of culture and literature, as well as being of fascination to the general reader.

From Chapter 7, Rural Techniques:

"Be that as it may, in the manipulation of an axe - whether it is the mighty two-handed weapon of woodmen and sawyers or the lighter one of wheel wrights - there is one circumstance which makes the tool a pre-eminent example of the law by which beauty waits on technique. In the case of most other tools, from fiddle-bow to dung-prong, the part to be handled is adapted for a stationary grip, but the handle of an axe is required for a grip that may loosen for the swinging gesture, and, sliding back swiftly down the shaft, tighten suddenly at the moment of impact into a clutch that is at once firm to check rebound and yet elastic to disperse the jar of the concussion. Consequently there is no part of axe-shaft, from the wide end where it is wedged to the head to the other end which swells to prevent slipping, but has its necessary contour; and the whole handle, thus fitted so to speak to the clever motion of a man's trained hands, has taken the mould of that motion and exhibits it to our sight."

ISBN 0904573117. Hardback, 280 pages.

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