Customer Reviews

Big Shots, The: Edwardian Shooting Parties

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Set in an periord when England was master of the world politic, the upperclass entertained themselves and their families with elaborate weekend shooting parties for driven game on their country estates. These remarkable individuals and their peculiarities, fancies, and foibles are described in an engaging English writing style. A great read for hunters and historians.

Jonathan Ruffer's book is an interesting and useful historical look at English sport shooting at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a book of the social customs of the day as well as driven bird shoots in England. There are many photographs of the era of prominent people who were involved in the large and prestigious shoots taking place on large estates -- including members of Britain's Royal Family. Nothing stays the same, of course, but this book does capture a certain period of English social history between the Boer War and the Great War which was never to fully return to England after 1918. This book is recommended to both sports shooters who desire an historical look back as well as readers desiring a look at England's social class structure and habits in the early 20th century.