Craftland by James Fox Review. Britain's Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades

Discover why James Fox's Craftland is a fascinating celebration of Britain's disappearing crafts, traditional skills and the people determined to keep them alive.

In an age dominated by automation, artificial intelligence and mass production, it is easy to forget that Britain was once defined by the remarkable skills of the people who made things with their own hands.

 In Craftland: A Journey Through Britain's Lost Arts and Vanishing Trades, acclaimed art historian and broadcaster James Fox sets out to rediscover that forgotten world, and what he finds is both inspiring and deeply moving.

Travelling from the Isles of Scilly to the Scottish Highlands, Fox meets many of Britain's remaining master craftspeople. From blacksmiths and wheelwrights to coopers, bell-founders, watchmakers and stone wallers, he uncovers stories of dedication, patience and extraordinary expertise that have often been passed down through generations.

Rather than presenting these traditional trades as museum pieces, Fox reveals them as living skills that continue to have value in the modern world. Many of the people he meets reject the idea that they are simply preserving history. 

They are professionals who continue to earn a living through craftsmanship that demands precision, creativity and years of experience.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its ability to connect the reader with Britain's rich regional heritage. Every county and community once had its own specialist trades, many of which helped shape local identity.Fox demonstrates how these crafts built towns, supported families and created objects designed to last for generations rather than years.

The writing is engaging, accessible and filled with fascinating encounters. Fox's enthusiasm is infectious, making readers appreciate the beauty hidden in everyday objects that most of us rarely stop to consider. Whether describing the careful construction of a dry-stone wall or the intricate mechanics of handmade watches, he reminds us that true craftsmanship combines knowledge, patience and passion.

At its heart, Craftland asks an important question: what do we lose when these skills disappear? The answer extends far beyond the objects themselves. Traditional crafts preserve stories, communities, identities and ways of thinking that cannot simply be replaced by machines.

For readers who enjoy history, British culture, traditional skills, or beautifully observed travel writing, Craftland is an absorbing and rewarding read. It is both a celebration of those keeping endangered trades alive and a thoughtful reminder that progress does not always mean leaving the past behind.

James Fox has produced a book that encourages us to look more closely at the makers around us and to value the remarkable human skill behind the objects we often take for granted. In doing so, Craftland becomes much more than a history of traditional crafts—it is a love letter to Britain's ingenuity, resilience and creativity.

Rating: ★★★★★

A BBC Radio Four Book of the Week, we can heartily recommend this book, it will make an excellent Christmas gift.

You can buy it from our Amazon-powered shop at a discounted price:- https://amzn.to/4vf1jwy

Lucy Connolly's Prison Memoir Explores Free Speech, Justice and Life Behind Bars

Discover Lucy Connolly's powerful prison memoir, exploring personal tragedy, freedom of speech, the UK justice system and life behind bars through her own experiences.

Some books entertain, some educate, and others invite readers to wrestle with difficult questions.

A new memoir from Lucy Connolly firmly falls into the latter category, offering a deeply personal account of tragedy, prosecution and life behind bars.

Lucy's story begins long before the events that brought her national attention. She writes movingly about the devastating loss of her only son, Harry, whom she believes died as a result of medical negligence. It is a loss that shaped every aspect of her life and one from which, she says, she has never fully recovered.

The book then turns to the aftermath of the horrific killings of children attending a dance class in Southport. Overwhelmed by emotion, Lucy posted a message on social media that she later removed just three hours after publishing it. 

Despite deleting the post, she was subsequently arrested, prosecuted under the Public Order Act and remanded into custody before later receiving a custodial sentence of 31 months.

In this memoir, Lucy recounts her experience from her own perspective. She describes how an ordinary family woman, a childminder, wife and the spouse of a Conservative councillor, found herself navigating the criminal justice system and adapting to life inside prison. Through her eyes, readers are taken behind the walls of the prison system and introduced to the routines, challenges and emotional realities of incarceration.

Beyond the personal story, the book explores wider themes that continue to generate public debate. It asks readers to consider where the line should be drawn between freedom of expression and criminality, whether sentencing in social media cases is proportionate, and how confidence in the justice system can be maintained. These are questions that have prompted strong opinions across the political spectrum.

Whether readers ultimately agree or disagree with Lucy's conclusions, her memoir offers a first-hand account of extraordinary circumstances and provides an opportunity to reflect on some of the most challenging legal and social issues facing Britain today.

For anyone interested in memoirs, contemporary legal debates, prison life or the evolving discussion around free speech in the digital age, this is a book likely to provoke conversation long after the final page has been turned.

You can buy your copies here https://amzn.to/3QPRyqr

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Off Beam, Off Side, Off Menu An Appeal From The Catholic Pews By Kevin Clarke

Off Beam, Off Side, Off Menu An Appeal from the Catholic Pews by Kevin Clarke

A personal, impassioned analysis of the failings of the Catholic Church

Kevin Clarke was born into a Catholic household and brought up within a staunchly Catholic community in England. As a youngster, he accepted the teachings and routines of the Church without question. Decades later, he is still an enthusiastic Catholic, but is now prepared to ask questions and demand answers from those responsible for leading the Church.

In an effort to understand just how the Church reached its present condition, he goes right back to basics and the foundations of the faith. He looks first at God's gifts to us, including creation, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and then moves on to examine our own response to God: what makes up the Church, how does it all work, and what effect have the various Church Councils had over the centuries? In the light of Vatican II and its aftermath, he raises some very pertinent questions about change and the Church's current direction. Finally he asks, 'Where do we go from here?' in the positive hope that the future will bring forth a Church more closely 'attuned to the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the peoples of our time'.

Author:
Kevin Clarke is a Chartered Surveyor and has worked in the private sector for 40 years in the UK, US, Middle East and Far East. He gained an MA in Comptemporary Theology and Canon Law both at Heythrop College in the University of London. He lives in London W8.

Book details:

Out: 26th April 2012

£9.99 Paperback

ISBN: 978-1-84624-685-2
216 x 135 mm

234 pages

HRCC7: Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church

079: Non-Fiction

Passionately argued personal appeal to the Catholic Church to rethink its attitudes in today's world. An intelligent and thoughtful approach by an ordinary 'man in the pew'. An inspirational challenge to leaders and laity alike.