James Richards was the editor of Architectural Review from 1937 - 1971 and architectural correspondent for The Times for over 20 years. Eric Ravilious is the painter, designer, ilustrator and wood engraver who is regarded as one of the best known English artists of the 20th Century. This title was first published in 1938 and pairs the stylish illustrations of Ravilious with the engaging text of Richards. The book introduces the British High Street with shops including the family butcher, the cheesemonger and the oyster bar. The original run was only 2000 and the books from that edition now reach high prices at auction - the original plates were destroyed in the London Blitz so the plates in this edition (of which there are 24) of facsimiles. The afterword in this edition is written by Gill Saunders.