This is arguably the most detailed study ever made of any branch of British furniture. Its unique scope embraces the work of hundreds of craftsmen throughout the country, working within the general tradition of their area, yet superimposing their individual design signatures. Employing a remarkable combination of talents, the author has examined thousands of regional chairs, researched local archives, conducted field studies and collated anecdotal evidence to relate the evolution of known types and makes. The result, far from being a dry research document, is a fascinating living account of the development of hundreds of chair types from all over England and the lives of the craftsmen who produced them. This book has revolutionised collecting and the study of vernacular furniture. It continues to be studied avidly by collectors as hundreds of new makers" names emerge from the anonymity of generalised terms such as Windsor, ladder back and spindle back. This reprint is most welcome.