The "Britain in Pictures" series, published primarily during World War II, featured many prominent writers and was intended to boost British morale by celebrating English culture and history. This volume, English Villages by poet and author Edmund Blunden, is a fine example of the high quality of these books. Blunden paints a loving portrait of village life: its people, landscape, architecture, and sensibilities. His lyrical prose is accompanied by beautiful illustrations, particularly the full-colour plates. ( )