I thought it was going to be a quiet month, but we’ve had a few new books come in over the last week or so. Let’s get straight into them.
I keep telling people that Bittern Books is not a publisher, but a year ago I agreed to work with an author, Chuck Weigand, who is a guide at Blickling and had been researching the Boleyn family and their association with the Blickling Estate. The result is this book, which follows the history of the family from their origins as small farmers in the village of Salle, not so far from Blickling, in the mid-1400s to becoming one of the most powerful families in the land, placing Anne Boleyn, who was born at Blickling, on the throne alongside Henry VIII.
The Boleyns of Blickling: From Plough to Crown in 100 Years is aimed at people who, like me, are not historians and explains not only the history of the family but the context of the times they lived in. It is printed in full colour with images of paintings and modern photographs of many of the locations and also has a family tree associated with many of the chapters to help the reader follow the complex family connections. This is a remarkable story of a Tudor family closely connected with Norfolk.
The Real Ale Rambler
There are many guidebooks for the Norfolk Coast Path and also many accounts of individuals walking long distance paths, but this one is a bit different. Firstly, it’s very funny, and secondly the author’s prime objective seems to have been to check out most of the pubs along the way and reporting on the standard of their offerings – which of course required sampling, an exercise that’s not always compatible with walking long distances!
This is a good and entertaining read, and may give walkers some ideas and suggestions on places to stay and the best lunch stops along the way.
Spring Unfurled
We loved Angela Harding‘s book Still Waters and Wild Waves that came out before Christmas, and this is the first in a new series of books in a smaller hardcover format set to release throughout 2025 as the seasons unroll.
Although Angela lives in Rutland, much of her work is inspired by East Anglian locations, as the cover illustration of Orford Ness suggests. Another beautiful book, ideal as a gift or just to enjoy.
Potted Histories
Amberley have just released two new books for our region in their Potted History series, for Norwich and King’s Lynn. These follow the standard Amberley 96 page full colour format, with plenty of photographs. The author of the Lynn book, Paul Richards, is well known and has written many books about the town. John Ling has also written a number of other books about Norfolk and Suffolk.
Full Details
Full details of the books above and a few others that have recently arrived are listed below.
From Plough to Crown in 100 Years
| Author | Charles Weigand |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 23.5cm x 15.5cm |
| Pages: | 96 |
| Publisher: | Bittern Books |
| ISBN: | 9781913415501 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| RRP: | £11.95 |
Quaffing Along the Norfolk Coast Path
| Author | Neil Collings |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 19.9cm x 13cm |
| Pages: | 220 |
| Publisher: | Bannister Publications |
| ISBN: | 9781916823198 |
| Year: | 2024 |
| RRP: | £13.00 |
A printmaker's view
| Author | Angela Harding |
| Format: | Hardcover |
| Dimensions: | 19.4cm x 14.8cm |
| Pages: | 80 |
| Publisher: | Sphere |
| ISBN: | 9781408721919 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| RRP: | £12.99 |
| Author | John Ling |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 23.4cm x 16.5cm |
| Pages: | 96 |
| Publisher: | Amberley |
| ISBN: | 9781398120938 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| RRP: | £15.99 |
| Author | Paul Richards |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 23.4cm x 16.5cm |
| Pages: | 96 |
| Publisher: | Amberley |
| ISBN: | 9781398119130 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| RRP: | £15.99 |
A DCI Greg Geldard Novella
| Author | Heather Peck |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 19.8cm x 13cm |
| Pages: | 85 |
| Publisher: | Ormesby |
| ISBN: | 9781915769299 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| RRP: | £4.99 |
| Author | Martin Bowman |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 21.4cm x 13.7cm |
| Pages: | 176 |
| Publisher: | Pen & Sword |
| ISBN: | 9781844155729 |
| Year: | 2007 |
| RRP: | £12.99 |
| Author | Milka Ivanova, Peter Robinson |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Dimensions: | 23.4cm x 16.5cm |
| Pages: | 96 |
| Publisher: | Amberley |
| ISBN: | 9781398121454 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| RRP: | £15.99 |
