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THE HEART OF ENGLAND




THE HEART OF ENGLAND SERIES


This Series opens with a new work by Mr. EDWARD THOMAS, that curious
and enthusiastic explorer of the English Countryside, whose prose
style gives him a claim to be regarded as the successor, as he is the
biographer, of Richard Jefferies. The Series includes a new edition
of Mr. THOMAS’S other work, “The Heart of England,” and Mr. HILAIRE
BELLOC’S “The Historic Thames.” These two volumes were originally
issued in limited editions at one Guinea net per volume.


 =THE SOUTH COUNTRY.= By EDWARD THOMAS. Small crown 8vo. =3s. 6d.= net.

Mr. Thomas in this new book gives his impressions of a year’s
wanderings afoot as the seasons change through Kent, Sussex, Hampshire,
Wiltshire and Cornwall. It is a prose-poem of the most beautiful
counties in England.


 THE HEART OF ENGLAND. By EDWARD THOMAS. Small crown 8vo. =3s. 6d.= net.


 THE HISTORIC THAMES. By HILAIRE BELLOC, M.P. =3s. 6d.= net.


_Prospectus of above Books sent post free on application._

  J. M. DENT & CO.
  29-30, BEDFORD STREET, LONDON, W.C.




[Illustration]




[Illustration:

  THE HEART OF
  ENGLAND

  _by Edward Thomas_

  LONDON
  _J. M. DENT & CO._

  _1909_
]




_All rights reserved_




  TO
  HENRY W. NEVINSON




CONTENTS


  PART I.
  LEAVING TOWN

  CHAP.                                             PAGE
  I. LEAVING TOWN                                      1

  PART II
  THE LOWLAND
  II. FAUNUS                                          21
  III. NOT HERE, O APOLLO!                            26
  IV. WALKING WITH GOOD COMPANY                       28
  V. NO MAN’S GARDEN                                  31
  VI. MARCH DOUBTS                                    37
  VII. A DECORATED CHURCH                             41
  VIII. GARLAND DAY                                   44
  IX. AN OLD WOOD                                     49
  X. IN A FARMYARD                                    52
  XI. MEADOWLAND                                      56
  XII. AN OLD FARM                                    64
  XIII. POPPIES                                       69
  XIV. AUGUST                                         73
  XV. OLD-FASHIONED TIMES                             77
  XVI. ONE GREEN FIELD                                83
  XVII. THE BROOK                                     88
  XVIII. AN AUTUMN GARDEN                             93
  XIX. THE WALNUT TREE                                97
  XX. A GOLDEN AGE                                   100
  XXI. THE VILLAGE                                   103
  XXII. ST. MARTIN’S SUMMER                          118
  XXIII. THE PRIDE OF THE MORNING                    121
  XXIV. THE METAMORPHOSIS                            124
  XXV. EARTH CHILDREN                                126
  XXVI. NOVEMBER RAIN                                138
  XXVII. JANUARY SUNSHINE                            140
  XXVIII. THE BARGE                                  143
  XXIX. A WINTER MORNING                             146

  PART III
  THE UPLAND
  XXX. CHERRY BLOSSOM                                153
  XXXI. THE FOX HUNT                                 155
  XXXII. APPLE BLOSSOM                               166
  XXXIII. A LITTLE BEFORE HARVEST                    170
  XXXIV. AUTUMN BELLS                                174
  XXXV. SUNDAY                                       176

  PART IV.
  THE MOUNTAINS
  XXXVI. THE FIRST DAFFODILS                         183
  XXXVII. THE MIRROR                                 192
  XXXVIII. UNDER THE MOOR                            198
  XXXIX. A HARVEST MOON                              202
  XL. THE INN                                        205

  PART V
  THE SEA
  XLI. A MARCH HAUL                                  211
  XLII. FISHING BOATS                                214
  XLIII. CLOUDS OVER THE SEA                         216
