Living the Past

On a yearly basis, more people visit historic buildings than attend football matches - that's quite some statistic. The draw of the past is perhaps more prevalent today than at any other time, but in recent years people have wanted to be able to experience the past rather than merely reading about it or watching it on television. This book on `living history' is endorsed by English Heritage and contains hundreds of photographs from some of the 400 re-enactment events that they stage every year. From recreations of Roman legions on manoeuvres at Richborough in Kent, to the work of thatchers re-roofing a 17th century house, a close eye on authenticity and an unstoppable enthusiasm for participation, gets you closer to the action. This book celebrates those who re-live the battles, pageants and day-to-day lives of their ancestors. Details on living history museums to visit, how to locate and use archival material, and step-by-step guides which show you how to load and fire a flintlock musket, or lay the table for a Stuart tea ceremony, reveal how you can get a piece of the action. Includes a foreword by David Starkey.