Not much is known about Adelaide Gosset. She was a collector of shepherding history, including such items as sheep bells. Judging by the way in which she selected the material for her books, it is likely that she had first hand experience of shepherding and regular contact with shepherds. She was born in Eltham in Kent in 1855, and published a number of books, two of which are of interest to sheepdog and shepherding enthusiasts, in particular her 1911 Shepherds of Britain. We are greatly indebted to her for having complied such an interesting book, as much of the information contained therein would otherwise have been lost.

For more information on the author, see Carole Presberg's Border Collie Museum page.

BOOKS:

Shepherds of Britain
Published 1911. 331 pages, hardback.
Reprint edition 2003. 356 pages, paperback.
Subtitled 'Scenes from shepherd life past and present, this is a compilation from a vast range of the 'best authorities' of reports, stories and folklore on shepherds and their dogs, sheep, wool and pastoral pastimes. The author notes the constant change, even in the most unchanging of our industries, and presents a wealth of material to delight and educate her audience. The final words of her preface illustrate what the book itself conveys: "What I chiefly felt in the work for this book was, after all, the deep-lying humanity of its subject, which reveals in the shepherd of real life, as clearly as in the shepherd of legend and history, the essentially regal qualities of insight and sympathy".

Shepherd Songs of Elizabethan England
Published 1912. 140 pages, hardback.
It was the shepherd James Gardner (1840-1900) who said "A young shepherd's love-making is nature's purest poetry". The author presents a pastoral garland proving the truth of that statement, concentrating on songs which refer to aspects of the shepherd's life.

Both books are out of print, but can occasionally be found on Amazon or Ebay.

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