Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts
Alexander Langlands
(Author)
Description
Faced with an endless supply of mass-manufactured products, we find ourselves nostalgic for goods bearing the mark of authenticity--hand-made tools, local brews, and other objects produced by human hands. Archaeologist and medieval historian Alexander Langlands reaches as far back as the Neolithic period to recover our lost sense of craft, combining deep history with detailed scientific analyses and his own experiences making traditional crafts. Craft brims with vivid storytelling, rich descriptions of natural landscape, and delightful surprises that will convince us to introduce more craft into our lives.
Product Details
Price
$17.99
$16.73
Publisher
W. W. Norton & Company
Publish Date
January 15, 2019
Pages
352
Dimensions
5.4 X 8.3 X 0.9 inches | 0.6 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780393356571
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About the Author
Dr Alex Langlands is an archaeologist, historian, best-selling author and popular broadcaster. He co-presented the celebrated BBC Two series Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, Wartime Farm and Full Steam Ahead and has appeared in Time Team for Channel 4, as well as making numerous other appearances on the BBC, Discovery, and History Channels. His most recent series, Digging Up Britain's Past (Channel 5), has proven a rating success and explores key episodes in Britain's past through the medium of archaeology. His recent book, Cræft: How traditional crafts are about more than just making, has received critical acclaim both in the UK and USA. Alex currently teaches medieval history and archaeology at Swansea University and is a regular speaker at history, archaeology and ideas festivals throughout the UK.
Reviews
Whether it's the small-batch hot sauce or the rage for craft beer, today's consumer wants tradition, quality, and artisan everything. Langlands offers a fascinating history of what's setting trends today.
An engaging read imparting a wealth of historical knowledge with a touch of infotainment. With current interest in authentic arts and handmade goods, this unparalleled scholarly work will appeal to both specialists and casual readers.
A coherent and enjoyable argument for 'not just a knowledge of making but a knowledge of being.'
Langlands excavates the scintillating history of our truest superpower: making clever things with our hands.... I am damn grateful for this book.--Nick Offerman, author of Paddle Your Own Canoe
Erudite, deftly argued, well written and timely--Langlands weaves together the basic human desire to use our hands to make things with tradition, landscape and the natural world. A delightful book that should be widely read.--Robert Penn, author of The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees
Alex Langlands is probably the only person who could have written this wonderful book, drawing as it does upon his extraordinary combination of experiences as an archaeologist and as somebody who has actively learned such a huge range of the traditional crafts which he explains. This is literally heritage in action, and artistry which produces practical rewards.--Ronald Hutton, professor of British history, University of Bristol, and author of The Triumph of the Moon
Part how-to, part memoir, the book gets at what it means to make things with your own hands, and how this experience connects us both to the past and to our present sense of place.
I am in no way crafty, but this book had me yearning to thatch my own roof just to be in touch with the physical and attendant mental labor of putting something useful together.--Pamela Paul, New York Times
An engaging read imparting a wealth of historical knowledge with a touch of infotainment. With current interest in authentic arts and handmade goods, this unparalleled scholarly work will appeal to both specialists and casual readers.
A coherent and enjoyable argument for 'not just a knowledge of making but a knowledge of being.'
Langlands excavates the scintillating history of our truest superpower: making clever things with our hands.... I am damn grateful for this book.--Nick Offerman, author of Paddle Your Own Canoe
Erudite, deftly argued, well written and timely--Langlands weaves together the basic human desire to use our hands to make things with tradition, landscape and the natural world. A delightful book that should be widely read.--Robert Penn, author of The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees
Alex Langlands is probably the only person who could have written this wonderful book, drawing as it does upon his extraordinary combination of experiences as an archaeologist and as somebody who has actively learned such a huge range of the traditional crafts which he explains. This is literally heritage in action, and artistry which produces practical rewards.--Ronald Hutton, professor of British history, University of Bristol, and author of The Triumph of the Moon
Part how-to, part memoir, the book gets at what it means to make things with your own hands, and how this experience connects us both to the past and to our present sense of place.
I am in no way crafty, but this book had me yearning to thatch my own roof just to be in touch with the physical and attendant mental labor of putting something useful together.--Pamela Paul, New York Times
