LEICESTERSHIRE and ITS HUNTS: THE QUORN, THE COTTESMORE, and THE BELVOIR. By Charles Simpson, R.I. ...

(1926) 1926 1st US edition. Large 4to. (227 x 290mm). Ppxxvi,256. Colour plates of paintings and b/w illustrations by the author, fold-out map, introduction by Major A. Burnaby, M.F.H.

"...with 28 illustrations in colour and 55 in black and white by the author, and an introduction by Major A. Burnaby, M.F.H." Charles Simpson was a keen huntsman and professional painter who won an Olympic Gold Medal for a sporting painting at the Paris Olympic Games of 1924. (That was before beach volleyball). In this book, Simpson describes the country and introduces numerous excerpts from other authors, including diary entries of local notables. "The material available for compiling this book was so varied and extensice that some scheme had to adopted which wuld give it coherence and unity. The divisions of the countries hunted by the famous packs, the Quorn, the Cottesmore and the Belvoir, served as a framework; and into this framework has been gradually pieced together what may be described as a tapestry depicting scenes of the chase with the Leicestershire landscape as background. It was at firs intended to include the whole of Leicestershire in one volume, but the design would have exceede its prescribed limits, and a second volume is now in preparation dealing with the countries of the Fernie and the Atherstone. ...All the coloured illustrations of woods and coverts were painted on the spot, and the impressions of actual runs were recorded a few hours after the incidents they depict took place. Most of the reproductions in black-and-white are from drawings made while exploring the country." Chapters include: A panorama of Leicestershire; Melton Mowbray; Hounds! Gentlemen, please!; Monday country - the Vale, the Wolds; A landscape in the Wolds; Quorndon; Charnwood Forest; Friday country - Twyford Vale and Lowesby; Billesdon Coplow; The Donington country, and conclusion; A Cottesmore diary; Early history of the Cottesmore; Tuesday country, Tilton and Launde, Owston and Ranksborough; Saturday country; Wednesday country; A summary of Belvoir history; The Vale of Belvoir; Epilogue.