Cover of the novel The Commoners by Fred Kitchen

The often surprisingly rural, countryside among the collieries around the Derbyshire town of Bolsover has produced delightful country stories by Fred Kitchen such as Goslington, Portrait of a Village, The Commoners and Nettleworth Parva. The villages may be imaginary but the life of the local farming folk is real enough “Ah weel this frost we’ve had has dried up the slurry.” remarked Nat, the hedger, ”for it’s been a clarty mass i’ the fallow of late.” “Thou’rt reet theer, Nat.” agreed Amos. “By gow, but it wer a sneezer this morn, it froz my beard as stiff as a bit o’ wood.” (Goslington)