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Hollow Places

An Unusual History of Land and Legend
3.96 goodreads logo

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( 244 ratings, 42 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Hollow Places by Christopher Hadley is an intriguing exploration of the relationship between folklore, archaeology, and the natural world. Through the lens of a single, fascinating story about a dragon-slaying legend, the book delves into how myths and the landscape intertwine, shedding light on the mysteries hidden in plain sight. It beautifully maps the convergence of history and nature in our popular tales.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the intersection of history, folklore, and archaeology. This intriguing journey unravels ancient myths and stories hidden beneath landscapes, appealing to those with a love for uncovering secrets of the past. Perfect for anyone captivated by what history can teach us about humanity and the natural world.

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‘Impossible to summarise and delightfully absorbing, Hadley’s book is comfortably the most unexpected history book of the year’ Sunday Times

A luminous journey through a thousand years of folklore and English history.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

‘Impossible to summarise and delightfully absorbing, Hadley’s book is comfortably the most unexpected history book of the year’ Sunday Times

A luminous journey through a thousand years of folklore and English history.

Once upon a time in a Hertfordshire field, an ancient yew tree hid a dragon hunted by a giant named Piers Shonks. Today, the dragon and its slayer are the survivors of an 800-year battle between rural legend and national record, storytellers and sceptics.

In this brilliant and lyrical history, Christopher Hadley journeys from churches to tombs to manuscript margins, to explore history, memory and legend, and the magical spaces where all three meet.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Christopher Hadley's Hollow Places has been praised as a rich exploration of English folklore and history, presenting an unexpected and delightful reading experience. The book offers an intelligent, engaging meditation on the evolution and impact of myths and tales over centuries, revealing the charm and significance of such stories in the cultural landscape. Hadley's narrative is celebrated for its fluidity, insightfulness and engaging style, offering both a scholarly and affectionate examination of historical traditions.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008319526

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: William Collins

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 310g

Pages: 448

About the Author

Christopher Hadley is a journalist and author. His pieces on such popular subjects as 18th-century religious tracts have appeared in The Independent, The Guardian, The Times, London Review of Books, Esquire and his local parish magazine, among many other publications. Hollow Places, an account of his search across a thousand years of British history for the dragon-slayer Shonks, is his first history book. Christopher is married with three children, whom he hopes will never grow-out of hunting for dragons and other marvels in the Hertfordshire countryside where they live. 

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