Old Country Life

"Old Country Life" by S. Baring-Gould is a thoughtful look into the changing world of rural England as the 1800s were coming to a close. It tells the story of old country families and their grand homes slowly fading away, and it compares this to what happened to the noble classes in other European countries like Germany and France. The book points out that the local gentry played a very important role in village life, tightly connected to the land and the people who lived on it. It begins by wondering what will happen to the old houses and the gentry. It shows how families that used to be important in their local areas have slowly disappeared, causing a loss of connection and community. Through stories and observations, it shows how the nobility have moved to the cities, causing loneliness and social problems in the countryside. The reader can see the connection between the past and the present in rural England.