"All aspects of England in the High Middle Ages are covered, including sections on social, economic, religious, military, intellectual and art history, as well as on political and constitutional history."--Publisher description.

A fascinating and accessible history of textiles, including the key personalities and inventions which revolutionized the industry, together with the East End workshops and the creation of artificial materials such as rayon. Textile expert, Fiona McDonald, includes tips on the care and repair of materials and advice on whats worth collecting and the best materials to wear, as well as safe cleaning, tips on collecting.In addition to a handy glossary of textile terms, there is an A-Z of different textiles, full of interesting facts did you know that velvet was originally made from silk and its name derives from the Latin word, vellus, meaning fleece, or that cabbage was the term used in the rag trade to refer to the extra outfits clever cutters created and sold off the books by careful placement of the pattern. A fascinating and often surprising subject area explored at an accessible but informative level.Did you know? Peau de Soie is a heavy satin which was used for wedding dresses at the turn of the last century. The word satin is derived from Zaytoun, an area of China where it was first made We have lost many evocative names for colors over the years, including bouffon (darker than eau de nil) cendre de rose (gray with pink nuances), dust of Paris (ecru), esterhazy (silver-gray), flys wing (graphite) and terre dEgypt (rust)

Originally published in 1953, What Shall I Read Next? lists nearly 2000 works published after 1900, with the compiler's own appreciatory comments on selected items. It was a companion volume to Mr Seymour Smith's English Library. Both books are published on behalf of the National Book League. In his introduction, explaining the scope and purpose of the book, Mr Seymour Smith wrote: 'Some will find it useful merely as a shopping list, reminding them of books they know something about already, and serving as a remembrancer. To others, and particularly to younger readers, it may introduce books which have so far escaped their notice. It is hoped, too, that for booksellers and librarians it will have a practical use as a desk-book, for answering enquiries, for serving as a check list for stock, and for use as a reference book when memory fails'.

Chaucer's England - The English manor house - Religious life - War and chivalry - The Black Death - After the pestilence - Towards revolt.