THE NOTORIOUS POACHER: MEMOIRS OF AN OLD POACHER. By G. Bedson ("Grandad").

(1981) 1986 2nd edition reprint. 8vo (160 x 240mm). Ppxiv,142. B/w illustrations from old engravings. Blue boards, spine titled in gilt.

This is the fascinating autobiography of a Staffordshire poacher in which he gives a detailed account of his life, the condition of the rural population of his day as well as full details of his activities and the methods and techniques he used. Rather a classic in its genre. "This book is about poaching life and the work and knowledge it takes is written mainly for my grandsons. It tells of the hard poverty in this so-called Great Britain in the early years of this [19th] century, in the early twenties and thirties when poverty was widespread throughout the country. I carried on the poaching game from schoolboy days throughout life until disease was deliberately spread over the whole country. What you read in this book is truth and not the rubbish written by some authors. I will explain some of this rubbish as I go along."