Hi there Rod, The following very well researched historical novels by Edward Rutherfurd (not -ford) don't relate specifically to farming people, but cover more or less all walks of life, town and country, high-born and low-born, crafts and professions, etc etc. - from prehistoric times to today. He manages to portray the atmosphere of the different ages and periods very well. They are thick paperbacks and very good reading. SARUM - about Salisbury where Rutherfurd grew up I think, so he started there. THE FOREST - about the New Forest, much of rural life there from earliest times. LONDON - about the people who gravitated to London and their lives there. DUBLIN - just starting that so can't comment, except that my husband, brought up there, says it's very accurate. (IRELAND AWAKENING - not yet read RUSSKA - also not yet read, but I'm looking forward to see what he does with Russia!) If you want more titles let me know. Happy reading! Judith -----Original Message----- From: sfhg-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:sfhg-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Rod Blaker Sent: 28 February 2008 13:32 To: SFHG@rootsweb.com Subject: [SFHG] life in the ....century Hi folks My goal with this genealogy is make make a gift of a story - the story of my ancestors and their lives in their times - to my descendants, relatives and their extended families. To do that I need a very good grasp of daily life as the centuries roll by - life on the farm, life as a house carpenter and so forth. From availability of horses, to nature of farming, to dentistry and health care and education and leisure time (was there any?) I read the suggestion of "Larks Rise" but that is I presume a snapshot of a particular moment. Does anyone have a suggestion about the type of reading that can take me from say 1000 to 2000 ? Not the life of the wealthy, nor the abject poor - the common man - and woman and child. Nasty, brutish and short, I understand; but a bit more detail needed. Thanks Rod ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SFHG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1301 - Release Date: 27.Feb.2008 08:35 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.1/1303 - Release Date: 28.Feb.2008 12:14