This was an interesting read. I really need to go visit all these places and see for myself now. Dreaming of travel, you'll like this one.

While this was interesting the balance between what it is and what it wants to be is lacking for me. This is educational and fascinating in its own right that the walking/pathway/route feels almost unnecessary. I enjoyed the learning of British colonial history and how society always tries to shy away from the fact but I feel as if I was missing something.

Professor Corinne Fowler's The Countryside: Ten Rural walks Through Britain and Its Hidden History of Empire, brings the history of its empire to the forefront through journeys in rural Britain. For each of the ten chapters, Fowler met with a partner to physical walk through specific landscapes and unveil the history of slavery, industry or commerce that made them possible. Fowler's partners came from different backgrounds, but were all creatives be they artists, writers or historians.

The book could be read as a highly detailed travel guide, each chapter begins with a map. For each region, Fowler delves deeply into the history of each space, including that space's attempting to address or ignore its exploitative past.

This book further expands upon Folwer's work exploring the links between National Trust properties and colonialism, which was a popular target of conservative focused culture wars.* America is not alone in grappling with its history as demonstrated through debates and protest about public monuments that misrepresent or fabricate an imagined past. May all works focused on these issues be so accurate and thoughtful as <The Countryside.

Recommended for readers of history, empire or historical romances looking to better understand the time period.

* see Tim Adams. "I'm not afraid of anybody now': the woman who revealed links between National trust houses and slavery - and was vilified." The Guardian April 21, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/21/corinne-fowler-national-trust-colonialism-our-island-stories

Corinne Fowler’s “The Countryside” is an extremely important conversation in how we address our past actions/history, in a way that is productive. Mentioned in her book, many people in England are not amenable to acknowledging the deep roots colonialism still has in British society. If we cannot acknowledge the past wrongs, and honor what it meant for our country and the countries over which we held (unworthy, I’ll add) dominion, how can we progress. Tackling this incredibly difficult topic, while also appreciating the land, AND having a conversation about modern day race relations - phew, that’s a tall order. Fowler handles it beautifully. Her style isn’t accusatory or combative, rather, it’s truly educational and accessible. Her writing balances a skilled storyteller and professorial voice (she IS a professor!) beautifully. This book is an incredible way to get to know England, its history, learn from the past for a better future, and maybe find a new walking path or two!

I'll admit, I didn't read the whole book; it is a bit heady for me, though written engagingly and well.

I appreciated the author's challenge to engage with historical events, the good and the bad (which can be relative based on one's point of view), and it was interesting to learn about the role that colonialism did play in the development of British land and housing as we know it today. The author and I may differ politically quite a bit, but there's certainly food for thought in this read.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Countryside is a frank look at the colonialism of the British Empire and how it casts a shadow down to the present day, written and presented by Dr. Corinne Fowler. Due out 11th June 2024 from Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 432 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Countryside rambles are so quintessentially English that people come from the world over to visit and experience the stately homes and gardens, the hospitality, and the charm of rural England, and generally never really thinking about the less salubrious history *behind* the wealth and nobility enjoyed by the families who were instrumental in that transfer of wealth from half a world away.

These are actual walks with itineraries which each explore a different facet of colonialism, from the slave and sugar trade in the Caribbean, the East India Company, to cotton & wool as well as the Raj period of British India.

The author writes well, and surprisingly objectively, about what were unquestionably monstrous interactions with the local peoples of the places "civilised" (and resources exploited and stolen) by colonial forces.

This is a layman accessible work, and although written in easy to understand everyday language, it's meticulously annotated and the chapter notes will provide readers with a wealth of further reading. So much of it is depressingly sad and not dulled by the passing centuries.

The routes taken by the author are not specifically laid out (with maps or links, though there are some abbreviated line drawn maps), and it would take a lot of effort to recreate her routes precisely. It's a book for armchair history buffs and students of history. She makes no direct judgements in the text, but the historical events themselves stand as a testament to the appalling capacity of humans to inflict calamity on other human beings for their own gain.

Five stars. Interesting and important, but depressing reading, especially in a modern context.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

"Ten walks through idyllic scenery reveal the countryside's forgotten links to transatlantic slavery and colonialism - a work of accessible history that will transform our understanding of British landscapes and heritage.

The green fields, rugged highlands, and rolling hills of England, Scotland, and Wales are commonly associated with adventure, romance, and seclusion as well as literary figures like Jane Austen and William Wordsworth. But in reality, many of these rural places - with their country houses, lakes, and shorelines - were profoundly changed by British colonial activity. Even hamlets and villages were affected by distant colonial events.

Taking ten country walks, author Corinne Fowler explores the unique colonial dimensions of British agriculture, copper-mining, landownership, wool-making, coastal trade, and factory work in cotton mills. One route shows the links between English country houses and Indian colonization. Another explores banking history in Southern England and its link to slavery on Louisianan plantations. Other walks uncover the historical impact of sugar profits on the Scottish isles and 18th-century tobacco imports on an English coastal port. The history of these countryside locations - and the people who lived and worked in them - is closely bound up with colonial rule in far-away continents.

Accompanying the author on her walks are a fascinating group of people - artists, musicians, and writers - with strong attachments to the landscapes featured in this book and family links to former British colonies like Barbados and Senegal. These companions illuminate the meaning of colonial history in local settings. Crucially, this is not just a history book but a compassionate reflection on the way we respond to sensitive, shared histories which link people across cultures, generations, and political divides."

History is all around us if we'd only look.

"The Countryside" is a fascinating companion for a ramble across Britain. We tend to see what we want to see: lush hills and valleys, sheep, chocolate-box villages... but the reality is that many of these lovely places were shaped by events far far away, as Britain expanded its empire.
Corinne Fowler's deeply researched book shows the links between agriculture, mining, cloth-making and other industrial activities, land ownership, trade (including in human beings), finance and more. She presents her findings in a credible, accessible way, makes them relevant for today.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I can't believe this isn't taught in school! We covered all this is US classroom in grade school and jr high. One would think history was taught the same way in Britain. History, warts and all, shoulld be addressed. Too many people profitted off the backs of others. Needs to be talked about. Interesting book about how wealth was earned and how many people suffered as a result. I have very different views of manor houses, castles, estates and what not when I travel in Europe. Good read, well researched. Anyone headed to Britain should read this book.