Booktober

Yes, Booktober is here again! After a fairly quiet summer, like falling leaves, the autumn fall of new books is upon us. Here is the first tranche – more on the way, so there is likely to be another email in the next week or so.

The Lost Country Houses of Norfolk

Norfolk certainly has its share of large country houses, many of which have existed for centuries. But in the late 19th century there were more, many of which have been demolished or destroyed. David Clarke documented many of these in the 2008 edition of this book, which has been long out of print. Now he has added a further 25, bringing the total houses described to almost 80. There is a brief history for each of the houses and in most cases a photograph or drawing.

This is a fascinating book, and essential for anyone interested in these remarkable houses and what happened to them.

From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads

The association with East Anglia, my normal criteria for listing a book, is somewhat tenuous here, but I couldn’t resist this.

James Briggs cycles across Europe trying to find meaning in Bowie’s famous lyrics to Life on Mars. Funny and entertaining, this book will make an ideal present for anyone who loves cycle touring, David Bowie, or both – and it has Norfolk in the title!

Norfolk's Pilgrim Routes

Walsingham, St Benets, King’s Lynn, Norwich – Norfolk’s religious sites attracted pilgrims for centuries, and their routes became well trodden. This new book from Andy Bull describes many of these routes and features priories and abbeys, pilgrim churches, hostelries and crosses, holy wells, chapels and hermitages as well as stories of historic figures such as the mystics Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich. Plenty of photographs make this an attractive book for walkers and anyone interested in the history of these routes.

Fortune and the Forty Thieves

This is David Higgins’ first novel although he has written several non-fiction histories, particularly focusing on the maritime history of East Anglia – we still have copies of Springboard to Victory. Set in the late 18th century it is a tale of smuggling on the Norfolk coast during the war with France. As you would expect from a historian, it is well researched and well written.

East Coast Fishing

Continuing with a maritime theme, this superb book documents in words and stunning photographs the state of the inshore fishing along the east coast today. This is a visual portrait of those people who are still trying to maintain this remarkable way of life and an important part of our food chain, as well as our national heritage. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see the unique challenges of making a living by coastal fishing today in the harsh environment of the coastal waters of the east of England on the edge of the North Sea. The photographs are accompanied by well-informed and insightful text that makes this an important piece of photo-journalism.

Details

The Lost Country Houses of Norfolk

A gazetteer of nearly 80 major houses in the County of Norfolk that have been demolished in the last 150 years. Revised 2025 edition with an additional 25 major houses.

Author	David Clarke
Format:	Paperback
Dimensions:	23.5cm x 17cm
Pages:	228
Publisher:
ISBN:	9781036927608
Year:	2025
RRP:	£12.99

From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads

A Bowie Odyssey

James Briggs cycles ‘From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads’ to discover what life, love and the lyrics of Life on Mars? really mean.

Author	James Briggs
Format:	Hardback/Dustjacket
Dimensions:	24.1cm x 13.3cm
Pages:	288
Publisher:	Icon Books
ISBN:	9781837733118
Year:	2025
RRP:	£20.00

Norfolk's Pilgrim Routes

A History of Paths, Places and People

Rediscover the ancient pilgrim routes in Norfolk and the people and places linked with them. Explore the full breadth of Norfolk’s rich pilgrim history.