By Philip A Crowl
Summer is here and it's time to think about travel!
The modern traveler has a range of resources to learn about a new destination but, before the internet and Rick Steves's useful and delightful travelogues, there were the Michelin guides, Fieldings and Fodor's. For those seeking information on historic sties in the UK, this title provides a thoughtful and through study of the history of Great Britain from a traveller's perspective. Crowl divides his 800-page tome into two sections: Narrative History and Gazetteer. The first is a chronological study of Great Britain, covering 10 historic periods from Prehistoric Britain to the 19th and 20th centuries, keeping in mind "visible and visitable" places. This section could easily be read on its own as a history, with references to geographic sites that are open to visit, and relevant players. The gazetteer organizes the sites by geophraphical region (e.g., London, SW England, Cotswold and Malvern Hills, North Wales, and even the Channel Islands), with commentary on the merit of each site.
An appendix lists the author's "Best of Britain" sites, whether ruined castles, cathedrals or stately homes. I looked up a few favorite places (Chepstow Castle, Broughton Castle, Royal Botanic Gardens, Imperial War Museum) and found brief but helpful listings for each. A lengthy book list offered suggestions for further reading. Written by an American.
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