First published in 1989

The Unquiet Countryside chronicles rural crime and unrest in the English countryside from the seventeenth century down to the end of the Victorian era. The authors highlight some of the most striking aspects of the countryside of the past: the extent and nature of rural crime and protest; riots over food; the Swing riots of 1830; poaching, arson, and animal maiming; the relations between landowners and the rural community; and the eventual new outlet for farmworkers in the growth of labour organizations. The volume expands our understanding of the rural past and directs new light on Britain’s rural heritage. This book is an essential read for scholars and researchers of British history, agricultural history, and history in general.