Peter Haining - The Scarecrow: Fact and Fable

[dem bones]

Peter Haining - The Scarecrow: Fact and Fable (Robert Hale, 1988)

Jacket illustrations: front, collage made by Pip Miller; back, scarecrow armed with a blundetbuss by A. L. Collins. Jacket design by Kathleen Aldridge.

List of illustrations
Acknowledgements

The World of the Scarecrow
A History of the Mawkin
The Scarecrow in Literature
The Straw Man on the Screen
The Twentieth Century Scarecrow

Appendix: How to make a Scarecrow

Bibliography
Index

Blurb:
The scarecrow is one of the most familiar figures on the rural landscape; not only in Great Britain but throughout Europe and many other countries of the world. His ragged figure has been recorded in rural history for centuries, and his image has proved irresistible to writers from William Shakespeare to Walter de Ia Mare as well as to film makers since the dawn of the silent movie. Yet, despite all his fame, the origins and the development of the scarecrow have remained obscured in mystery.

Now, in this book, the first to be wholly devoted to the subject, Peter Haining presents the results of many years of research into the scarecrow. His fascinating study throws new light on the subject and the text is complemented by copious and varied illustrations, including cartoons, line drawings, photographs and engravings.

It could even be that the claims are accurate and this really is the first full length study of the straw man, treatment of the subject because, on the surface, scarecrows look great for sure, but a certain presence aside, they don't have a lot going for them.

That The Scarecrow: In Fact and Fable is, according to the blurb, the first full length study of the subject is perhaps less surprising than it ought to be once you realise that our enigmatic straw men don't have a lot going for them. They look great for sure, but that's about it. As a deterrent, they're hopeless. Once the birds of the fields catch on that the enemy are static, they "lose their terror," take to roosting atop his or her straw head. According to the author, the farming community have long accepted that it's far more effective simply to hire unemployed youths to protect their crops - Birmingham City FC supporters are, apparently, particularly good at chasing away the birdies. Given a relative sparsity of material - scarecrows haven't done a lot this past five hundred years - Peter Haining, enthused as ever, does a grand job in compiling such a fascinating compilation of historical references, anecdotes and reminiscences into an instructive and entertaining read. Of particular interest to this forum, the chapter on the scarecrow in literature and select bibliography. His eye for the striking illustration is keen as ever.

A little more about The Scarecrow (and two items that didn't make it into the book) on the admirable jot.101 ("A jot adds new and original information, it is not irrelevant and it is not opinion. Every single posting on jot101 is a jot.)"

[humgoo]

Aug 3, 2020 10:20:22 GMT dem bones said:

A little more about The Scarecrow (and two items that didn't make it into the book) on the admirable jot.101

It's lovely to know that someone is sifting through Mr. Haining's papers, and to know what books he tried to pitch but failed. It doesn't take a Haining completist (ahem ... no names no pack drill etc) to want to have Tall Stories – An Anthology of Boaster's Tales! (Am guessing what will be you next PH acquisition, now that you've even got the scarecrow book!)

[dem bones]

I still have a couple from the shelf of shame to write up. Beyond that, I'm pretty much limited to what turns up on market/ charity shop trawls, so no telling if that will include another Haining, let alone which one. Won't name those few I'm especially interested in as dealers keep a keen eye on places like this and price up their wares accordingly. Haining was so prolific I think it highly likely there are a few titles we're as yet unaware of. The Scarecrow is lovely because it's so obviously a project close to his heart.

The jot.101 site is a joy!