Review by Choice Review
Only an author with a historian's penchant for detail, coupled with a love of literature and a forester's practical knowledge, could produce a literate, and quite readable, work on so specific a subject, defined by such a limited geographical area: England. Indeed, where else might one turn if instructed to "trundle in the mould gently"? James's 214 pages of terms reflect changes in usage over the centuries from the Middle Ages to the present, while offering definitions, brief histories, and descriptions of customs and practices to which these terms refer. The range is from the common to the esoteric; it is, nevertheless, those entries that read like a companion to Shakespeare's more campestral works which distinguish this dictionary and make it interesting. In addition, the 20 pages of references, grouped according to the letter of the alphabet under which the terms are arranged, makes for interesting browsing. A unique work in its field, this volume is potentially useful in a variety of subject areas other than forestry, including linguistics, and history. Recommended for college, university, and subject specific collections.-M. A. Miasek, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
