Reading the Forest
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BOOKS

Historical novels

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The Golden Swan (1965) by James Playsted Wood​
Jem's family are Huguenot emigre glassblowers living in the 'Great Forest'. Amidst the tensions and violence of the Civil War he develops new friendships.

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The Thane of the Dean (1899) by Tom BevanTom Bevan
Two Saxon brothers defend the Forest against a corrupt Norman lord and attacks by the Welsh.

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Sea Dogs All! A Tale of Forest and Sea (1911) by Tom Bevan
​A fabulous adventure tale that sees the hero stop a Spanish plot to burn down the Forest. With appearances by Raleigh, Drake and Elizabeth I, there's adventure on the high seas too. 

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No Quarter!  (1885) by Thomas Mayne Reid
A gripping English Civil War tale centred on the Forest, a Parliamentarian family and a host of engaging characters. 

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Forest Heart: a civil war tale of a Forest of Dean Family (1998) by Chris Tye
​Two Coleford brothers get drawn into the Parliamentarian army, the siege of Gloucester and the fight for control of the Forest.


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To Keep This Oath (1958) by Hebe Weenolson
Set in 12th century England the story sees a Saxon runaway kidnapped by Forest miners. Full of fascinating detail, it follows the young hero as he learns medicine from an elderly monk, and has an important royal encounter. 

NOVELS

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Let the Hero be the Hungry Man (2000) by Ralph Anstis

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Journey To Worlds End (2004) by Maggie Clutterbuck

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Caught On Tape (2012) by Maggie Clutterbuck

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Shelter (2017) by Sarah Franklin
Connie leaves the city to join the Timber Corps in the Forest of Dean. She meets Seppie, an Italian POW, as they both begin to find themselves.

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The White Sparrow (1954) by John Moore
The coming of age story of a mixed heritage boy living on the edge of the Forest of Dean. One scene finds him in Ruardean asking about bears...

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​Sugar Hall
 (2014) by Tiffany Murray
This claustrophobic, neo-gothic style novel is set in 1955 and draws inspiration from the history and stories associated with Littledean Hall. A tour de force of contemporary novel writing. 

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Hide and Seek (1973) by Dennis Potter

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Heaven's Gate: A Story of the Forest of Dean (1886) by 'Lawrence Severn' [Ada M. Trotter]

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Bledisloe or Aunt Pen's American Nieces: An International Story (1887) by Ada M. Trotter

SHORT STORIES & COLLECTIONS 

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Dean Forest Stories (1992) by Ralph Anstis

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Dene Forest Sketches (1887) by S. M. Crawley-Boevey

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Dene Forest Sketches, second series (1899) by S. M. Crawley-Boevey

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Tales in the Speech House (1886) by Charles F. Grindrod

ABOUT THE FOREST OF DEAN (non-fiction)

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Forest of Dean (1952) by F. W. Baty

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The Forest of Dean (1913) by Arthur O. Cooke
Beautifully illustrated it covers both history and the contemporary Forest of the 1910's as the author systematically tours the area.

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Severn, Wye and Forest of Dean (1945) by A. Dorothy Holmes

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The Changing Forest: a social enquiry into the Forest of Dean (1962)  by Dennis Potter
This personal journalistic enquiry by the young Dennis Potter demonstrates an eye for detail, nuance of analysis, feeling for the Forest, and a fierce intellect. 

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The Forest of Dean (1951) by Brian Waters

history

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Warren James and the Forest of Dean Riots (1986) by Ralph Anstis
The story of the 1831 riots in the Forest against enclosures. This engagingly written history gives the background and aftermath of the riots, and the story of its leader Warren James. 

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Blood On Coal: the 1926 general strike and miners’ lockout in the Forest of Dean (1999) by Ralph Anstis

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The Last Deep Mine of Dean ​(1988) by Maurice Bent 

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The Musical tradition of Dean: Volume 1 (1997) by Maurice Bent

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The Old Industries of Dean (1980) by David Bick

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​Our Industrial Heritage: The Tinplaters of Lydney and Lydbrook (n.d.) Bryan Rendell & Keith Childs
The result of a remarkable Whitecross School project  IN THE 1980s the book is full of first hand testimony and fine photographs. 

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Custom, Work and Market Capitalism: the Forest of Dean Colliers (1981) by Chris Fisher

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The Commoners of Dean Forest (1951) by Cyril Hart ​

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The Industrial History of Dean (1971) by Cyril Hart

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The Verderers and Forest Laws of Dean (1971) by Cyril Hart 

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​Between Severn (Saefern) and Wye (Waege) in the Year 1000: a prelude to the Norman Forest of Dene in Glowcestscire and Herefordscire (2000) by Cyril Hart​​ ​

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The Forest of Dean: new history 1550-1818 (1995) by Cyril Hart ​

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The Free Miners of the Forest of Dean and Hundred of St Briavels (2002) by Cyril Hart

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Bermuda Dick (2002) by Averil Kear.
A fascinating and detailed account of the rape trial and subsequent transportation to Bermuda of a Yorkley man in the c19th. 

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The Forest of Dean: an historical and descriptive account (1858) Rev. H. G. Nicholls.
The first historian of the Forest, Nicholls' book covers its history, topography and culture. He also details the contemporary Forest of the 1850s. Re-issued in 1966 as a facsimile the edition included Nicholls' 1866 work Iron Making in the Olden Times.

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Newnham-on-Severn: A Retrospect (1962, 1st published 1912) by Mabel K. Woods
A wonderful, detailed history of this beautiful Forest former maritime town. 

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The Archaeology and History of Ancient Dean and the Wye Valley ​(1992) by Bryan Walters

detective fiction

  • Accident by Design (1996) by J. M. Gregson
  • Just Desserts (2012) by J.  M. Gregson
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An Air That Kills (1995) by Andrew Taylor

  • The Mortal Sickness (1996) by Andrew Taylor
  • The Lover of the Grave (1997) by Andrew Taylor
  • The Suffocating Night (1998) by Andrew Taylor
  • Where Roses Fade (2000) by Andrew Taylor
  • Death's Own Door (2001) by Andrew Taylor
  • Call the Dying (2004) by Andrew Taylor
  • Naked the Hangman (2006) by Andrew Taylor

POETRY & VERSE

contemporary Poets

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Knots  and Branches (2016) by Stewart Carswell

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Digging Deep (2014) by Maggie Clutterbuck
Thoughtful contemporary poetry dealing with family, relationships and a wide range of other themes. The collection includes two moving poems in dialect. .


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The 'azards o' Chimuck Szwippin'  (1978) by Keith Morgan
A master of Forest dialect verse, this first collection covers aspects of life in the Forest past and present. Funny, moving, always entertaining it includes some fine short poems in standard English too. 

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Albert's Dree Wi'ker  (1985) by Keith Morgan
More dialect verse on Forest themes, this shorter collection includes 'Varest National Anthem'. A series of reflective poems in standard English towards the end demonstrate the author's versatility and depth.

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Dean Scenes in Pictures and Rhyme (n.d.) by Pete Ralph

Poetry from the past

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A Collection of Poems on the Forest of Dean and it's Neighbourhood (1841) by Catherine Drew

  • ​In Pillowell Woods and other poems (1926) by F.W. Harvey​​
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The Rustic's Lay, and other poems (1817) by William S. Wickenden

people & pLACES 

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Four Personalities from the Forest of Dean (1996) by Ralph Antis
Engaging and fascinating history on four significant Forest figures: Sir Charles Dilke MP, Catharina Bovey, Tomothy Mounty, and Sir John Wyntour.

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Highest Point of Dean (1985) by Maurice Bent

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A Fortunate Man (1967) by John Berger & Jean Mohr​
An in-depth exploration of the relationship between a country GP and his patients, in words by Berger and photographs by Jean Mohr. 'Dr. Sasall' in the book was Berger's friend Dr. John Eskell and the Forest village community was St Briavels.

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The Personalities of the Forest of Dean (1863) by Rev. H. G. Nicholls ​

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My Father Knew Will Harvey ​(2019) by David Adams

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A Disorderly Settlement (2012) by David Adams, illustrated by Helen Sandford

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In Search of Our Forest Heritage ​(2013) by David Adams and Claire Ham

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A Native Forester: The Life and Poems of Richard Morse of Yorkley (2012) by David Adams and Chris Nancollas

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Severnside to Circassia: Being the Life and Works of the Remarkable Rev. William Wickenden of Etloe, Bard of the Forest ​(2016) by David Adams
A fabulous insight into this remarkable, and sadly forgotten, successful nineteenth century author and poet.  

Remenisance & Auto-biography

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Chronicles of an Ancient Forest (2001) by John Christian

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Green Wood (1962) by Leonard Clark

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A Fool in the Forest (1965) by Leonard Clark

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Grateful Caliban (1967) by Leonard Clark

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Where I Was Bred ​(197?) William J. Creswick

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A Child in the Forest  (1974) by Winifred Foley
Memories of a Forest childhood in the 1920s and 30s. This affectionate portrait of working-class  family life, community and hard times, sees 'Poll' leave school to work in service.
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No Pipe Dreams For Father: scenes from a Forest of Dean village childhood (1977) by Winifred Foley

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Back to the Forest (1981) by Winifred Foley

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In and Out of the Forest (1984) by Winifred Foley​

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Shear Magic: a childhood memoir of village and farm life in the Forest of Dean (2002) by Danny Haines ​

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Where I Belong: A Forest of Dean childhood in the 1930s (1993) by Joyce Latham

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Whistling in the Dark: A Forest of Dean girlhood in the 1940s (1994) by Joyce Latham ​

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The Life Labours, and Deliverances of a Forest of Dean Collier... (1887) by Timothy Mountjoy

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Just Where I Belong (1978) by Humphrey Phelps​

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Lessons of a Lifetime (circa 1984) edited by Brian Rendell & Keith Childs
A brilliant collection of histories based on interviews conducted by Whitecross School pupils in 1983. Covering numerous aspects of social history in the Forest from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

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Across the Yard (2001) by Eric J. Rice

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A Doctor in the Forest (1979) by Bill Tandy
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Part memoir, part Forest history primer, it is full of brilliant crafted anecdotes from one of the Forest's most well regarded and loved doctors. 

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Another Doctor in the Forest (2018) by Chris Nancollas

PHoTOGRAPHY

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The Secret Forest of Dean (1986) by Fay Godwin

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Spirit of the Forest (2010) by David Lloyd

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Work in the Woods: Dean's Industrial Legacy (2002)  by Chris Morris

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Forest of Dean (2011) by Chris Morris



Humour

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Forest Humour (1977) by Harry Beddington
Poetry, polemic and stories all in Forest dialect. Warm, funny and thought-provoking in equal measure. 

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The Roadsiders: It's Kev 'n Dave (2011) by 'Baz' [Robin Phelps]
A work of graphic, comic, satirical and Forest dialect genius.

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Gloucestershire Libraries is a great place to get hold of Forest of Dean books - search online or drop into your local library.

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Copyright © 2016
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Authors
  • Books
  • News & Features
  • PODCAST
  • Contact Us / get involved
  • Teacher Resources
  • Making Words Count
  • Literary Landscape Map
  • Forest literary history timeline
  • Events
  • Takedown Policy