A decade of The Modern Antiquarian

Jane Jul 10, 2009 19:49:05

OK, OK, so The Modern Antiquarian was first published in 1998, but I have only been aware of it since 1999, when I saw a copy of it for sale at the Henge Shop in Avebury that spring. So for me this year marks a decade of TMA. When I first saw it on sale, price £25, I think - or was it £30? - I dribbled over it, I caressed it, I handled it with reverence but I put it back on the shelf because I was very, very skint at that time.

My friend treaclechops got a copy as a birthday pressie, and I was allowed to look at it but I had to wash my hands first and promise not to open it too far for fear of breaking the spine. I desperately wanted my own copy: to pour over every word, to cross reference sites to maps and wonder about the feasibility of getting to them...

I didn't get my own precious copy until September 2001 as a leaving gift from my previous job, which my thoughtful ex-colleagues all signed.

When treaclechops died, she left her copy to my daughter, who had been dragged out on various megalithing trips over the years. She treasures her copy, not just because of its provenance, but because it reminds her of those trips to wild and wonderful places.

Now, looking on amazon, I see that this most precious of books is out of print and the cheapest second-hand copy is £70!

It's not overstating it to say that TMA changed my life. Using it as a guidebook, it took me and treaclechops on trips together which are now cherished memories of our friendship. Through TMA I met my husband and together we have used the book to guide our travels across the UK, and now with TME, far beyond.

I wonder if others on here treasure their copy of the book as much as I do mine? Where and when did you get yours?

Pilgrim Jul 10, 2009 20:24:14

Replying to Jane

Jane wrote:

I wonder if others on here treasure their copy of the book as much as I do mine? Where and when did you get yours?

Hi Jane,

I sure treasure mine - both of them! I got the first in W*tersones - it still has the 20% off sticker on it! The second one I picked up during my 4 years as a secondhand bookdealer here in Plymouth - so I have one for 'best' and one for everyday... I saw one in Glasto on the Sunday after Solstice: THAT was 60 squid.

I hope you're both well.

Peace

Pilgrim

Littlestone Jul 10, 2009 20:54:43

Replying to Jane

I wonder if others on here treasure their copy of the book as much as I do mine? Where and when did you get yours?

Yes indeed I do. I got my copy from Roger Bolton (gentle friend to me and many others) who lived in the Lodge for a number of years. Roger walked into the Lion one day with a pristine copy as a present. I slung it under the seat of the car, where it lived for a while and then... gradually... I came to know it... as I have come to know the good people here and, sadly, for just once, treaclechops...

moss Jul 10, 2009 21:05:21

Replying to Jane

Hi Jane, I must have got mine a couple of years later than you from Amazon, remember Pilgrim getting cross if any one bought anything from the aforesaid and not from a reputable book dealer ;), but he went off into the wilds of New Zealand to sell books elsewhere- though as we know he kept in touch.
Reading the book, after all the archaeology books I had read, it was a complete revelation, I suppose the spiritual aspect of what Julian Cope was saying struck a chord, I read his essays again and again, and I think he pointed me in a direction in which I had to satisfy my curiosity about the old paganism and stones and the role of the early christian church.
Even today I cannot look at stones or the great long barrows without that gut feeling of awe at something we know so little about. The stones themselves are beautiful, perhaps because of their remote settings within natural landscapes.
A confession, like you I met someone else in the stones community, and when my books eventually arrived in his house, he was aghast that I had thrown away the hardback cover - ;( sorry Pilgrim too....
Moss x

Littlestone Jul 10, 2009 21:12:08

Replying to Jane

and when my books eventually arrived in his house, he was aghast that I had thrown away the hardback cover - ;( sorry Pilgrim too....

Chuckle... what she's saying is she actually threw away the dust cover!!!

Jeeze...

ocifant Jul 10, 2009 22:47:01

Replying to Jane

I saw my first copy as a pre-publication review copy. It had been sent through to Pagan dawn (I was on the team at the time), and I realised that I'd met Jim Bennet (he did the maps) a couple of times in previous years at various events.

I didn't get my own copy for a couple of years, so probably 99 or 00. It's still pristine - if I need to read any of it these days, I use Mikki's copy - she's a 'folder' so it already doesn't matter. :-)

Thanks to the book, and this website, I've met many wonderful people at the stones, including the much missed TC.

The Eternal Jul 10, 2009 22:58:29

Replying to Jane

Jane,
I, too, looked and dribbled at TMA in the bookshop, and the price wasn't right, so I didn't buy it, and never have. My wife did drag me into a charity shop recently, and TMA, in its full, resplendent hardback cover, was for sale for £30. Again, I didn't buy it. These charity shops seem to have got wise to the price of stuff.
However, on the positive side, the TMA book made me search t'internet for TMA links, which led me to this website. I didn't post much for a while, but eventually decided that a contribution might inspire someone to go to a site I photographed. The TMA book, by spawning the website, has led to an extremely worthwhile community of like-minded people sharing photos, thoughts and ideas, and wonderful long-lost folklore, and, not to mention, generally making friends.
So, thanks Copey.
Regards,
TE.

nigelswift Jul 10, 2009 23:38:00

Replying to Jane

Hi Janey. You always cheer me up. A breezy no-nonsense nurse marching into a depressing psychiatric ward of people frantically searching for something to be unpleasant about and subtly demonstrating how inconsequential their nonsense is simply by pointing out of the window. O how we’ll hoot at the henge! ;)

Mine’s falling apart. But only in Wessex and Wales. Essex is mint. I find it hard to distinguish between the book and the website as I knew nowt about either or Mr Cope or indeed the internet until 2000 and then they all sort of hit me together along with enforced idleness and I got sucked into an amazing world of megaliths and hundreds of lovely cyberpeople here and in HA. You youngsters probably don’t appreciate how lucky people like me feel to have just managed to experience the net and all it brings but I feel grateful every day. My granddad was born during the American civil war for God’s sake....

Anyway, the book’s in the back of the car and gets taken out at many a field gate. I think the biggest thing I owe to Mr Cope is the fact a field is no longer a field but a series of significant humps and bumps. That, and knowing so many people here that have turned out to be even nicer than I could have ever guessed when I’ve met them in the flesh through Stonehengineers and the various HA events and megameets. Hurrah for us, we’re great aren’t we?!

Mrs Ahab Jul 10, 2009 23:38:44

Replying to Jane

My copy also came from the avebury shop, it was a christmas present from my parents, a signed copy dated 2000. It makes me think of our dear old camper in which we always took it on our hols, it made our holdidays, and many times it flew out of the overhead cupboard when the breaks were aplied a bit heavy and a couple of times a passenger on the back sead got nutted by it. We took it with us upto callanish for our honeymoon and i still keep the drawing i did of the stones inside the book.

gjrk Jul 11, 2009 01:15:50

Replying to Jane

Foyles in London, which is odd 'cos I live in West Cork. I had a second one, for a while. I picked it up second-hand in a bookshop in Cork city and later gave it to someone as a present.

Everytime I visit their house, I notice it propping up a heaving pile of literature, dusty, dirty and I think, but I may be wrong I hope, more than a bit mouldy. God. What a waste of a fine book. Probably never even read it after the first day.

Off to Wales for a while next week and I've been working backwards and forwards through it. I'll probably end up only going to a place or two, but it's the planning, the thinking, the deciding... the anticipation.

:) Gordon

StoneGloves Jul 11, 2009 11:20:31

Replying to Jane

Dour, vituperative and obsessed. And that's when I'm in a good mood.

But I've still never seen the book. Not even on a bookshelf or in someone's hand. The closest I've got to it was hearing Mark Radcliffe clonk it on the desk on R2 during an interview. And I make a point of not listening to Radio 2.

But the standard work misses all my finds in SW Northumberland, which include the smallest circle known - a four-poster - and one of the largest circles known, at Kirkhaugh. And there's none of the Bolton monuments in there either. Not even one of the Smithills long barrows or stone rows.

FourWinds Jul 13, 2009 08:09:21

Replying to Jane

I first used it to start off a revisiting-journey around North Wales and Anglesey. A little later I used it to plan the start of a Cornwall trip.

It's a thing of beauty and a thing of its time. The gazetteer is a great introduction to the better, more accessible sites in the various areas it covers. Like all books it has shortcomings, but the insane look of the thing and its monumental size make up for that. To think that we had to lug something that large around, because there was nothing else available is the biggest surprise! The inaccuracies just added to the adventure.

These days there are good books covering smaller areas (for some of them) that are much easier to manage in a rucksack. Many of these books exist thanks to TMA. I can't say that it was responsible for my return to the stones after a 10 year gap, but it was certainly useful in reacquainting myself with them! It took me to places I'd not been to before and reminded me of times and places I enjoyed enormously. For those reasons alone I think fondly of it.

There should have been two books in the slipcase, though: the essay and the gazetteer.

Squid Tempest Jul 13, 2009 10:37:53

Replying to Jane

My old, battered, signed copy is a personal treasure. It has accompanied my family and I on numerous holidays, and been responsable for most of our vacation itineraries.

I know it is unlikely in the extreme, but wouldn't a new, revised version be brilliant?

sleeptowin Jul 13, 2009 15:25:53

Replying to Jane

id never heard of it untill 2007 ish, my mate who had done an course told me about it. so i looked around for it, and then one day my girlfreind turned up with it and the European one, as a present.

its since been with us most places we go. we are kind of new to the stones, so to find out there were 100s all over the place was eye opening.

to be honest ive still not even read it, i just look at the pictures and use the maps to see if there is anything close to where we are.

its an excellent book and has sent us looking for places, and getting mostly lost for over a year now.

1speed Jul 13, 2009 18:13:23

Replying to Jane

Shortly after reading a review in a paper (might have been NME, then again it might not...) when it first came out, I pottered down to Blackpool Waterstones more in hope than expectation, and was delighted to find they actually had a copy in the "Mind, Body and Spirit" section. Paid my £29.99, and have treasured it ever since. It's always lived in its slipcase, so the covers are still orange, but the chevrons on the spine have faded to yellow (plus the glowy dolmen thing doesn't glow any more).

It's always with me whenever I go away, but if I happen to be going to visit my friend Louise then I also have to make sure the Post-It note is still securely in place on page 424 so I don't get any earache from her about the picture of Dorian in *that* top... ;-)

And I totally agree with Common Era's comment about the essays. I still re-read them from time to time, and have also acquired various interesting, inspiring, and thought-provoking, books referenced therein and in the bibliography, which I'd probably have missed out on otherwise.

north bucks Jul 14, 2009 10:54:12

Replying to Jane

Mine came from Foyles in London as well, bought with with some birthday money, first book i'd ever seen in a cardboard box.

I think it's a unique work, my only grumble at the time was that it didn't cover Ivanhoe Beacon, which was and is my favourite place, I've learned to forgive though as it introduced me to so many sites I would never have heard of without it.

Someone else mentioned it made them look at this country in a different way and I agree, it really made me love the countryside more.

neighbourofthedrude Jul 14, 2009 17:15:53

Replying to Jane

Bought mine in Virgin in Swindon.
Took it back a week later to the book signing and Julian signed it for me.

:o)

riverman Jul 15, 2009 07:16:29

Replying to Jane

I got my copy as a present from my girlfriend when we lived out in Spain and other than exploring the Avebury area still not really used it in the field - would love to visit Callanish and the Aberdeenshire area.

As others have said though the essays really changed my view of the countryside. For example I've spent a lot of time in the Cheviots for the last 30 years and they just seemed to get more and more magical post TMA. There's not so much in the way of megalithic monuments up there but the cup and ring marks and the ploughed out henges that lead from the Milfield Plain into the Glen Valley attest to its spiritual importance (the avatar sunset is taken from the Glen valley just down from the raised terrace where one of these henges is sited). The stone circle at Duddo (in TMA) is also a fantastic spot on a nice summer's evening.

Mr Hamhead Jul 15, 2009 20:00:23

Replying to Jane

Mine still sits on the bookshelf, as it has since I bought it all those years ago when it first came out. I don't think it has ever been out on a trip...I tend to read it and make notes...and then come on here and see what others have added.

The book got me into stones and prehistoric sites...and I am sooooooo lucky to live in Cornwall with sites all over the place. It has also given me an excuse to explore places I might not have gone otherwise and develop my interest in photography (no pun intended).

Lastly, I have met up with a few TMAers over the years who have been great company on walks and are welcome to this wonderful county anytime.

To the rest of you who have added to this website over the years...thanks for the info and keep it coming.

Mr H

goffik Jul 17, 2009 11:47:35

Replying to Jane

I didn't really know much about JC other than a few singles purchased around the time of "My Nation Underground". I loved that stuff - I know it's not his most popular among the die hard fans, but since then we've been filling the gaps with the back catalogue. We are both now, and have been for a few years now, big fans.

I remember seeing TMA in a shop window and thinking "hang on a minute... isn't that the bloke that did 5 O'clock World?"

We saw a couple with a copy of it on the table in a bar in Weymouth not long after, so I asked to have a peek. They happily obliged. Suffice to say I just HAD to have a copy after seeing that! Little did I know that Mrs G had already bought a copy for me as a present!

Our copy is still in pretty good condition, even though it's accompanied us from The Scilly Isles to Orkney, from Dartmoor to the Outer Hebrides, via the Peak District and the Lake District, North Wales and Northumberland, Scotland's Lowlands and Highlands... and innumerable places in between. It's had many an annotated post-it note stuck to it but the pages don't appear to have suffered any adverse effects from them! ;)

For us, our adventures were really kick-started by TMA, with it's accessibility beyond the seemingly more bland academic publications that preceded it, but also ignited our interest in these other books. It became a lot clearer when put in a more human perspective - from the perspective of the curious traveller.

It was a while before I knew there was a website accompanying the book. A friend alerted me to it's presence, and I've been hooked ever since!

Whenever we visit a new place, we first check the book, then the website to see if there's anywhere nearby worth a visit. I have stacks of printouts from the fieldnotes from all over the country that I've reused time and again...

Naturally, we went to the nearest talk to us that Julian gave when The Megalithic European was released, and he very kindly signed both books for us. (I inadvertently bumped into him in the loo beforehand, but that's another story altogether...) I was extremely honoured when he officially approved of my custom-made TMA button badge!

If it wasn't for TMA, I'd not have seen some of the most beautiful countryside, the most stunning views - hills, mountains, islands, beaches, moors, and so on - that this country has to offer!

I also have TMA to thank for meeting, in person, some of the friendliest and knowledgeable people imaginable, through the Megameets, various walks and get-togethers, archaeological experiments, offshoot groups such as Heritage Action and the Stonehengineers, and, of course, Julian Cope gigs!

So here's to The Modern Antiquarian! A most treasured possession.

G x

Kozmik_Ken Jul 17, 2009 20:02:37

Replying to Jane

I still never have owned a copy, preferring the website. A brilliant, living resource that grows and grows.

scubi63 Jul 19, 2009 12:00:07

Replying to Jane

I bought my copy amazon in February 07 after stunling across TMA some time before that while looking for places to take Rex. It only cost me £19.79 with free delivery thrown in so it was a bit of a bargain really.
I must confess to not having read the whole thing as I tend to read the section that relates to places I intend to visit at the time.
I may put the book in the car to read later before setting off to a site but due to its weight and size (it's no pocket guide) I have never carried it with me and therefore remains in very good condition.
The book is querky in its layout and the photography isn't exactly stunning IMHO, but it is very informative and does put a different perspective on things. It was certainly a good starting point for me and gave me the insentive to visit many places a see parts of the country side few get around to visiting.
Yes mine does sit in my bookshelf but it sits proudly with my other stoney books and is read each time I plan a trip somewhere new.

:o)

Scubi

Chance Jul 19, 2009 15:06:04

Replying to Jane

Hi Jane and gang

Apologies if this has already been mentioned on one of these threads but couldn't see it.

The BBC's 2000 transmission of The Modern Antiquarian is available to view on UTube.

View part 1 of 6 at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wSCUfp_-as

or the whole program at http://www.youtube.com/user/Saxondalerocks

Chance

P.S.
I and none of my known family, living dead or in between know anything about Saxondalerocks's Channel other than what is written above.
Cheers then

Joolio Geordio Jul 30, 2009 23:17:53

Replying to Jane

Great thread Jane you have reminded me of some long forgotten memories. In the days before internet access at stately Geordio Manor I think I must have heard about the TMA from one of Julians postcards (I have them in the loft somewhere - I used to love getting them as an early warning of some fantastic event) anyhoo duely bought my copy from HH (or would it have been the Kakalog back then) it arrived and disaster the outer slip case was crushed and split open. I contacted HH and came home one night to find a message on my answerphone from Joanne Wilder offering a replacement - within a day or two a (cosmic!) courier turned up bearing a shiny new perfect copy - I was just gobsmacked and impressed at this level of customer service as couriering a book to me would have cost way more than the book itself. I was and still am totally impressed and very grateful - so Joanne if you are reading this 11 years on thank you.
Anyway my original copy accompanied me on numerous stone circling expeditions until 2001/02 when it was looking a bit worse for wear and was retired and replaced with a new one.

The original copy holds special memories being autographed by Ron and Margaret Curtis in 1999 following the resurection of the Iarsiadar Standing Stone (Site 8a).

Thats my story anyway

All the best
Joolio