Unquiet Country: Voices of the Rural Poor 1820-1880
by Robert Lee

We are all familiar with the concept of history from the bottom up. Many of us have young members of our family who are encouraged to study the effect of events on ordinary people rather than the actions of the famous names in history. This of course is fine as long as there is an awareness of the bigger issues and the social context. In Unquiet Country Robert Lee, using archive material sets out to recreate episodes in rural Norfolk in the nineteenth century and the reaction of ordinary people to events and circumstances beyond their control.

The author's method of bringing the rural poor and their problems to life is through an unusual combination of dramatisation and academic discussion. Firstly he has identified a number of events recorded in National and Norfolk archives and reported in newspapers which represent significant circumstances or changes in the rural community. These range from nationwide events such as the 'Captain Swing' and 1834 Poor Law riots to witchcraft and poaching. Robert Lee then attempts to let us hear the authentic voice of the past by starting each chapter with a short dramatised version of an event using the actual words of the participants whenever possible. He follows this with further description and more general discussion. Thus the chapter 'Countdown to Riot', on the Poor Law protests in the Freebridge Lynn area starts with an account, in a fictional style, of a meeting of the Poor Law Guardians in December 1835 in Grimston schoolroom. Elsewhere records of proceedings in the magistrate's courts are expanded or events reconstructed from local newspaper accounts. Personalities having been introduced and the scene set in a very accessible style the author is then free to discuss each situation, its background, implications and development, in a more academic way. Appendices reproduce some of the original documents.

Robert Lee is very careful to differentiate between the sections in which he has 'allowed (himself) a little imaginative licence' and the rest of his book which he hopes will be accepted as a collection of 'serious essays'. The more imaginative text is printed in a different type and although end notes refer the reader to the original sources one is left in no doubt that it is fictional.

I was at first rather puzzled as to why Dr Lee had bothered with dramatisation. Who is this book aimed at? To my mind if he wishes to bring the rural poor of nineteenth century Norfolk to life his discussion in the bulk of the book is more than adequate. Although I understand that we are not all up to speed on E.P.Thompson or have the time to read Hobsbawm and Rude's Captain Swing surely those who need the storybook version will be unhappy with academic discussion and vice versa. I can only speak personally. I am afraid that the sort of chapter that begins 'Christmas Eve, and a pool of sherry-coloured light fell from the windows of Grimston schoolroom' do nothing for me and I skimmed through that one to get to the meat of the sandwich , an interesting discussion of outdoor relief and the difficulties of the Guardians and the Relieving Officers.

However I note from the book cover that Dr Lee has taught at a number of Higher Education establishments and I presume that in his experience those who have not thought much on this subject need to be eased gently into thinking more carefully about the issues involved. Is this the style of history textbooks these days?

The book is illustrated with original photographs including a rather alarming cover portrait taken from a Victorian book. Despite my reservations I feel that it is a good reminder of the realities of nineteenth century rural life. It will be of particular interest to the many people who, like me, have an 'ag.lab.' in their family history.

Rosemary Conely