Martin S. (Martin Shaw) Briggs
Rusticus : $b or, The future of the countryside
"Rusticus: Or, the Future of the Countryside" by Martin S. Briggs is a reflective essay written in the early 20th century. The book discusses the transformations faced by rural England, particularly due to industrialization and modern transportation developments. It offers a critique of these changes while expressing a nostalgic yearning for the pastoral beauty of the English countryside. The opening of the book presents a narrative of an Englishman returning home after years abroad, only to find his beloved countryside irrevocably altered. As he travels through Kent, the character reflects on the rapid changes brought by automobiles and urban development, noting the loss of traditional villages and the rise of unsightly modern architecture. This opening sets the stage for a broader examination of how such transformations have damaged the rural landscape and continues to highlight the author’s deep concern for preserving the beauty and character of England's countryside against the onslaught of modernization and commercialism.