{"product_id":"9780500512357","title":"The Most Beautiful Country Towns of England","description":"Complementing the best-selling \u003ci\u003eThe Most Beautiful Villages of England,\u003c\/i\u003e Hugh Palmer has produced a stunning sequence of images of those ancient towns in which the true heart of England lies. All the places included here embody a long, preindustrial heritage; they are also communities of a well-preserved beauty, widely visited by travelers from all parts of the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Twenty-five of the most beguiling small towns of rural and seaside England are included. Here are market towns that have traditionally owed their importance and prosperity to the agricultural land surrounding them, towns that grew up by river crossings, small ports harboring both fishing and trading fleets, centers of religious activity, and even spas.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    The whole of England is represented in Palmer’s delightful photography and perceptive commentaries, revealing how history, site, and the availability of local building materials have combined to shape the appearance of towns in different parts of the country. Darker stones lend a slightly forbidding yet noble air to the towns of the north, such as Barnard Castle. The eastern counties have a wealth of ancient half-timbered architecture, punctuated by buildings in flint and limestone, while to the west lie the honey-colored streets and houses of the Cotswolds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Here, too, are towns formed by their social and cultural contexts -- the elegant Georgian and Victorian houses of Buxton, Derbyshire, reflecting its heyday as a fashionable spa; the imposing terraces in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, an expression of its importance as a market town and religious center with a magnificent abbey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \u003ci\u003eA Traveler’s Guide,\u003c\/i\u003e listing places to visit, to stay, and to eat, helps both armchair and actual travelers enjoy even more a visit to England’s delightful countryside. Hugh Palmer is one of Britain’s foremost photographers of rural life. His previous books include many titles in the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/search.barnesandnoble.com\/BookSearch\/results.asp?WRD=Most+Beautiful+Villages\u0026amp;sLinkPrefix\"\u003eMost Beautiful Villages\u003c\/a\u003e series. ","brand":"W W Norton \u0026 Co Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47013923619056,"sku":"9780500512357","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780500512357_p0.jpg?v=1763709204","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780500512357","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}