For a book that was an accidental pick-up at Kim’s in Chichester, Dorset by H.O.Lock has been an absolutely delightful read. With a tinge of regret, I finished it this morning.
I don’t know very much about Mr. Lock. He served as a Major in the British army, he wrote a number of books and that is about it. I don’t know if he lived in Dorset, so I don’t know if he really loved the place, or if that was just the way he wrote, but the book exudes love.
Although the book gives bare-bones details about things, mentioning almost in passing the martyrdoms of King Edward at Corfe Castle in 975, or the battle between Stephen and Maud and the ensuing siege of Wareham, or discusses the delights of Old Harry (and his wives), Swanage, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Portland Bill and the geology that caused these features it is done in such a way that with things like access to the internet and libraries simply calls out for further research.
To the extent that I am going to re-read the book and extract from it an index of things that I would love to research, see and write about. Fuel indeed for my locality project. Such delights await me.
Unusual to have my daily post so early in the day, but I am seriously enthused by this book.
Bills Posts 