“The Old English Faring Books” explores the history of English farming, exploring notable authors and the developments in agriculture that they were arguably responsible for. Beginning with “Fitzherbert’s Boke of Husbondrye”, first published in 1523, this volume explores two hundred years of farming and farming literature, making it highly recommended for those with an interest in the history and development of modern farming techniques. Contents include: “Introduction”, “Tudor times”, “The Age of Markham”, “The Age of Hartlib”, “The Age of Worlidge and Houghton”, “The Age of Richard Bradley”, “Bibliography”, and “Appendix”. Many vintage books such as this are 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 on farming.

The rise of agrarian capitalism in Britain is usually told as a story about markets, land, and wages. This study reveals that it was also about books, knowledge and expertise, challenging the dominant narrative of an agricultural 'enlightenment' and showing how farming books appropriated traditional knowledge in pre-industrial Britain.

Sheds fresh light on our understanding of violence, imperialism, and political centralisation in Tudor England.