About the book

“[A] succinct and handsomely produced volume...” Kate Tiller, International Journal of Regional and Local History

“The book is attractively produced, well illustrated, and reasonably priced. Focusing on several key aspects of Joan Thirsk’s wide ranging interests, this book deserves the attention of economic and social historians of the late medieval as well as the early modern periods.” John S. Lee, The Ricardian

“The strength of the book... is in the combination of papers on a diverse range of related topics. As historians with the vast range of expertise that Thirsk held are very rare for most readers it will provide thought-provoking links between their own field and ones they may not have considered before.” Ronan O'Donnell, Landscape History

“What we have here, therefore are accessible, readable, thought provoking summaries and critiques of debates which Thirsk has been instrumental in making central to the study of rural social history, combined with practical examples of how a wide range of sources and techniques have been, and could be used by local historians to pursue the issues themselves.” Michael Winstanley, The Local Historian

“There is much to appreciate in this book… I was particularly interested in the articles on 'common fields' and enclosure but also very taken by the ones on dress and the village shop and the use of probate inventories, a source underused by local historians.” Janet Morris, CALH Review

Joan Thirsk was the leading English agrarian historian of the late 20th century. Perhaps best known for her research into regional farming, she also wrote much about rural industry, changing tastes and fashions, and innovations in the rural economy.

This book is based on a conference held in her honour (following her death in 2013) that was intended not to look back but rather to identify Joan Thirsk’s relevance for historians now, and to present new work that has been influenced and inspired by her.

Some of the contributors are scholars who knew Joan, and as students were taught and supervised by her; others are younger people who know of her ideas from her publications.