Kenneth Allsop was a broadcaster, author and naturalist. He was a regular reporter on the BBC current affairs programme Tonight during the 1960s. He was also Rector of Edinburgh University and won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. a passionate conservationist, he fought countless battles for conservation throughout the country. He served in WWII and it was whilst on battle training with the RAF that he injured his knee which led to the amputation of his leg. He continued to suffer with pain and depression until his death in 1973.
General discussion points
- He was sociable, he loved London and had a great many friends, but also loved his Dorset home where he enjoyed escaping from social life.
- He was an early conservationist, cared about threats man was making on countryside,(fracking, detergent in water, mink…) but as an outsider could distance himself.
- Some group members loved his writing and descriptions of countryside and felt it sharpened observation of countryside around us, (for example 'rain couldn’t be wetter') others found prose over embellished, florid, repetitive and with too many similies - Interesting and irritating in equal measure.
- Gentle rumination of life in the countryside – lovely descriptions of nature especially birds, flowers eg description of snowdrop, molehills like Christmas puddings.
- Originally the book started life as series of articles published in newspaper, then collated into a book. Would it have worked better as a series of articles? Would it be better to read it one month at a time in tune with the seasons?
- Journalistic style – lack of paragraphs and choice of obscure vocabulary made it difficult to understand at times. As he was writing for newspaper readers, surprising he chose some difficult vocabulary – or interesting to be introduced to new words?
- At time 'padding' could be spotted as he had a certain number of words to deliver
- Written from a dispassionate point of view as an observer/incomer, with very little sense of Allsop as a person or other human beings – very nature based. I
- n comparison Andy Case (a Milborne St Andrew farmer) as he sets the scene you know he is strongly embedded in the countryside.
- ‘Deep mapping’ – how people relate to their community.
- Made readers reflect on change in countryside – linked with Sylvia Townsend Warner.
- Closure of pubs (and how some are reopening as community pubs today)
- Continuity and change in landscape from the one described by KA – elms gone, pylons still there but might be buried soon. what would he think of wind farms?
William Barnes
A small selection of poems were discussed briefly by the Ridgeway Reading Group
A small selection of poems were discussed briefly by the Ridgeway Reading Group
- Much discussion on how far the dialect was a barrier to understanding his poetry. Important to read it out loud – even if don’t get the pronunciation right – the meaning becomes clear when spoken.
- Barnes was a linguistic purist – all words must have Anglo Saxon roots. (Debate had been going on since 1600’s – should things be written in Latin or Greek or using words with these origins or in Anglo Saxon?
- Many of Barnes words very expressive: Wordstock – vocabulary, Speech craft – grammar, Forelder – ancestor
- Language linked strongly to social status, power and wealth. Arrival or railways would have introduced higher class language into Dorset.
- Hugely talented, largely self taught man. Amazing linguist, excellent teacher and parish priest. Wanted his writing to be understood by those who didn’t have a classical education, but used classical forms in his poetry (lovely rhythms)
- Lovely images “skies do frown’ ‘shades of stems to overstrew the mossy path’
- Did he deliver sermons in dialect?
- Not a revolutionary socialist, but cared deeply about people, the suffering of the poor (eg the devastating effects of enclosure acts). Comments were made in a very subtle way (he needed to make a living from his writing).
- Feel he is embedded in Dorset – its people and the countryside and cared deeply about changes that were causing suffering. Very genuine. No pretentions. Lovely descriptions and easy to understand once get over the language barrier.
- Devastated by death of his wife – decline in number of pupils and final closure of his school – made latter part of his life very difficult.
- Was there another poet of his time that wrote more revolutionary poetry?
Suggested Reads:
William Barnes – Glossary of Dorset Dialect
Alan Chedzoy – A Bit of a Bundle
William Holland – Pauper and Pig Killers Diary
Diary of a Farmer’s Wife 1796-1797
Ethelind Fearon -Most Happy Husband
John Jackson – A Little Piece of England
Laurie Lee – Cider with Rosie
Andy Case – A Dorset County Calendar
Brian Jackman - Countryside in winter
Brian Jackman - Countryside in winter
Gilbert White
Alison Uttley – A Country Child
Mark Cocker – Crow Country
John Symonds Udal Dorset Folklore
Sites of possible interest:
http://www.nickfenney.com/dorsetdialect18.htmlSites of possible interest:
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/dwile-flonking
http://dorsetblue.moonfruit.com/
Life of the Fields richard jefferies on project gutenburg
Artwork
Samuel Palmer
George Richmond
John Linnel
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