George Sturt – författare

George Sturt's frank and moving account of his trade as a wheelwright in the late nineteenth century offers a unique glimpse into the working lives of craftsmen in a world since banished by technology. The wheelwright's shop where he entered business had been operating for two centuries; this chronicle, first published in 1923, is a poignant record of that tradition, written as it was passing into history. E. P. Thompson's new foreword acclaims the significance of Sturt's engaging narrative as a vital document in the history of labour at the turn of the century.

George Sturt (1863-1927), who also wrote under the pseudonym George Bourne, was a highly prominent writer on the traditions of rural life and the condition of the English labouring classes. Originally published in 1927, shortly after Sturt's death, this volume provides a memoir of his early experiences in and around Farnham, Surrey. It is written in a characteristically informal, personal style, with numerous beautifully rendered observations, and is also notable for containing an introduction by Arnold Bennett. This is a highly readable book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Sturt's life and autobiographical writing in general.

In 1901, George Sturt (using the pen-name George Bourne) published this biography of his gardener, Frederick Bettesworth. This unusual ethnographic account, written in a modified dialect, uniquely captures rural life in late nineteenth-century England. The book bridges the class divide between 'master and man' as Sturt, through many interviews, gets to know his down-to-earth day labourer, and comes to understand peasant life and poverty as seen through the eyes of Bettesworth. In the introduction, Sturt precisely lays out his interviewing methodology, which allows the reader to understand both men as the conversations, and the book, progress. Through 35 chapters, he opens a window on the social relationships between the classes amid descriptions of the work, childhood, education, and family life of the region's agricultural workers. Sturt is humbled and enriched by his friendship with Bettesworth, calling him the 'voice of Britain', a man 'rugged, unresting, irresistible'.

George Sturt (1863-1927) was a British wheelwright and writer who usually wrote under the pen-name George Bourne. A native of Surrey, he inherited his father's workshop in the rural village of Bourne, near Farnborough, in 1894. He began to record the daily lives and recollections of his rural family and acquaintances, which he published towards the end of his life. First published in 1922, this volume contains Sturt's unique biography of his uncle, farmer John Smith. Sturt bases his account of his uncle's life around Smith's anecdotes and recollections as recounted him during the last years of Smith's life. This unusual structure provides a lively, intimate account of the life of a farmer in rural England during the nineteenth century. Through Smith's recollections and Sturt's own memories, Sturt sensitively describes the domestic life, work and farming methods of a now vanished way of life.

George Sturt (1863-1927) was a British wheelwright and writer who usually wrote under the pen-name George Bourne. A native of Surrey, he inherited his father's workshop in the rural village of Bourne, near Farnborough, in 1891 and began to record the daily lives and recollections of his rural family and acquaintances. This volume, first published in 1912, contains Sturt's description and analysis of social changes he saw taking place in the village where he lived. At the time of publication, Sturt's village was being transformed from a rural agricultural community into a 'residential centre' populated by wealthy outsiders from London. Sturt sensitively and perceptively describes these changes, and analyses their impact on the rural society, community and economy by comparing the contemporary situation to the 'old' rural society. This volume provides valuable insights into changes and social tensions in rural Late Victorian society and economy.

George Sturt (1863-1927) was a British wheelwright and writer who usually wrote under the pen-name George Bourne. A native of Surrey, he inherited his father's workshop in the rural village of Bourne, near Farnborough, in 1894 and began to record the daily lives and recollections of his rural family and acquaintances, which he published towards the end of his life. This volume, first published in 1913, contains Sturt's descriptions of characters and traditions of the village in which he lived. Through conversations with his gardener and labourer Fred Bettesworth and his own experiences, Sturt vividly and sensitively describes the community, hardships, daily lives and experiences of a variety of characters from his rural agricultural village, including Fred's wife Lucy Bettesworth. Written with a keen sense of the fragile nature of this community, this volume provides a valuable record of a now-vanished way of life.

The Wheelwright''s Shop by George Sturt offers an intimate and vivid portrayal of traditional craftsmanship at the turn of the 20th century. Through Sturt''s meticulous observations and engaging narrative, readers gain an unparalleled glimpse into the life and labor of a wheelwright in a small English village.

Originally published in 1923, this classic work documents the intricacies of wheel-making and the profound changes brought about by industrialisation. Sturt''s reflective prose not only captures the technical aspects of the craft but also relates the social and economic implications of a rapidly evolving world.

A. F. Collins, with great care and expertise, has selected and edited chapters from Sturt''s original work to present a comprehensive yet accessible version for modern readers. Collins'' edition retains the authenticity and richness of Sturt''s descriptions.

The chapters of this book include:

The Wheelwright''s ShopTimber: BuyingTimber: Carting and ConvertingThe SawyersTimber: Seasoning"Wheel-Stuff"Hand-Work"Bottom-Timbers"WagonsLearning the TradeWheels: Spokes and FelloesThe Smith: "Getting Ready"And much more...

Whether you are a historian, a craftsman, or simply someone who appreciates the art of traditional trades, The Wheelwright''s Shop offers a timeless reflection on the value of skilled labor and the enduring legacy of traditional crafts.

This early work by George Sturt was originally published in 1912 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. “Change in the village” (1912) describes in detail and with great compassion the difficult conditions for the rural poor in places like the Lower Bourne; the village name which he chose to adopt as his pseudonym. Sturt was born in 1863 at Farnham, Surrey, England and spent his early manhood as a teacher at the local grammar school. He remained in this position until 1894, when his father died, after which he ran the family wheelwright shop on East Street, Farnham. Sturt stayed here for the rest of his life, and wrote numerous books and articles under the name of George Bourne, whilst simultaneously running the shop.

This is a 1919 biography of the author''s grandfather, William Smith. It explores the life of this traditional English potter-turned-farmer in nineteenth-century rural England. Highly recommended for those with an interest in English life in the nineteenth century. Contents include: “Farnborough”, “The Farmhouse”, “Keeping Christmas”, “Summer at the Farm”, “The Potshop”, “The Second Marriage”, “The Potter Turns Farmer”, “The Pottery. 1. Manufacture”, “The Pottery. 2. Delivery”, “The Ware, Customers, etc.”, “Ancillary Industries”, “Sundries”, “The Neighbourhood”, “Dame Smith”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction.