Pit-folk and Peers

Autori

• David Waddington

Parametri

• Biografie
• Narrativa
• Storie vere

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Meticulously researched, David Waddington vividly resuscitates the nineteenth-century lives of the inhabitants of long-lost Fryston Hall. The West Riding pit village of Fryston, once called 'a mining Shangri-la', was a small, isolated community of twelve terraced streets, accessible only via a narrow railway bridge. It epitomized the mining tradition and a once-fabled way of life. The village pub, the 'Milnes Arms', hints at its rich history, as the local mine and village were established on the vast estate of the wealthy Milnes dynasty of Wakefield. Central to this narrative is Richard Monckton Milnes, later Lord Houghton, known for his biography of John Keats and his long courtship of Florence Nightingale. A distinguished poet and reformist politician, Milnes was a controversial figure, with a library reputed to house Europe's largest collection of erotic literature. Despite his libertine lifestyle, he was a notable philanthropist, supporting many struggling individuals and institutions. His legacy continued with his children, including Robert, a prominent politician, and Florence, a novelist and animal rights activist. The early twentieth century saw a decline in the Milnes family's ties to Fryston Hall, leading to its deterioration, contrasting with the growth of Fryston village. In this first volume, Waddington explores the significant cultural, political, and humanitarian contributions of Richard Monckton Milnes and his

Lingua: Inglese

Pubblicato: 2020

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