Overview

Faced with an endless supply of mass-manufactured products, we find ourselves nostalgic for goods bearing the mark of authenticity—hand-made tools, local brews, and other objects produced by human hands. Archaeologist and medieval historian Alexander Langlands reaches as far back as the Neolithic period to recover our lost sense of cræft, combining deep history with detailed scientific analyses and his own experiences making traditional crafts. Cræft brims with vivid storytelling, rich descriptions of natural landscape, and delightful surprises that will convince us to introduce more cræft into our lives.

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9780393356571

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Reviews

Alex Langlands is probably the only person who could have written this wonderful book, drawing as it does upon his extraordinary combination of experiences as an archaeologist and as somebody who has actively learned such a huge range of the traditional crafts which he explains. This is literally heritage in action, and artistry which produces practical rewards. -- Ronald Hutton, professor of British history, Bristol University, and author of The Triumph of the Moon Erudite, deftly argued, well written, and timely-Langlands weaves together the basic human desire to use our hands to make things with tradition, landscape, and the natural world. A delightful book that should be widely read. -- Robert Penn, author of The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees Alexander Langlands is spot-on: crafting isn't just about creating beautiful, useful objects. It's about reclaiming the knowledge, wisdom, and power that link us to the collective history of civilization. Craeft is what makes us human. -- Carleen Madigan, editor of The Backyard Homestead An engaging read imparting a wealth of historical knowledge with a touch of infotainment. With current interest in authentic arts and handmade goods, this unparalleled scholarly work will appeal to both specialists and casual readers. -- Library Journal, starred Whether it's the small-batch hot sauce or the rage for craft beer, today's consumer wants tradition, quality, and artisan everything. Langlands offers a fascinating history of what's setting trends today. -- Booklist Using a combination of memoir, history and cultural commentary - in the first chapter Langlands has his own Poldark moment with a scythe - Langlands makes a coherent and enjoyable argument for 'not just a knowledge of making but a knowledge of being.' -- The Guardian Archaeologist and BBC presenter Alexander Langlands offers a fascinating and surprisingly relevant dive into a subject that might seem niche to many-the origins of traditional crafts in medieval Europe... Readers get a richly atmospheric peek into craefts like the thatching of roofs, the spinning of wool, and the tanning of hides... What Langlands is advocating for in his book is more widespread knowledge about the time when craft was integral to daily life. In the era he studies, activities like beekeeping weren't escapes from reality, but essential to it. -- The Atlantic Hypnotic... In reconnecting with craeft, [Langlands] begins to see not just the beauty of an object or a building or a landscape, but the deeper purpose for which each has been created. And he understands, too, the environment they shape and upon which they depend.... At a time where our disconnection from the world around us is not just tragic but downright dangerous, recovering our status as Homo faber, the species that makes things, may be our salvation. -- Michael Bierut - New York Times In Craeft, Mr. Langlands excavates the scintillating history of our truest super power: making clever things with our hands. This history is rife with real-life magic and affection, for our earth as well as one another. I am damn grateful for this book. -- Nick Offerman, author of Paddle Your Own Canoe and Good Clean Fun

An engaging read imparting a wealth of historical knowledge with a touch of infotainment. With current interest in authentic arts and handmade goods, this unparalleled scholarly work will appeal to both specialists and casual readers. -- Library Journal (starred review) Whether it's the small-batch hot sauce or the rage for craft beer, today's consumer wants tradition, quality, and artisan everything. Langlands offers a fascinating history of what's setting trends today. -- Booklist Part how-to, part memoir, the book gets at what it means to make things with your own hands, and how this experience connects us both to the past and to our present sense of place. -- American Scholar Alex Langlands is probably the only person who could have written this wonderful book, drawing as it does upon his extraordinary combination of experiences as an archaeologist and as somebody who has actively learned such a huge range of the traditional crafts which he explains. This is literally heritage in action, and artistry which produces practical rewards. -- Ronald Hutton, professor of British history, University of Bristol, and author of The Triumph of the Moon Alexander Langlands is spot-on: crafting isn't just about creating beautiful, useful objects. It's about reclaiming the knowledge, wisdom, and power that link us to the collective history of civilization. Craft is what makes us human. -- Carleen Madigan, editor of The Backyard Homestead Erudite, deftly argued, well written and timely-Langlands weaves together the basic human desire to use our hands to make things with tradition, landscape and the natural world. A delightful book that should be widely read. -- Robert Penn, author of The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees Langlands excavates the scintillating history of our truest superpower: making clever things with our hands.... I am damn grateful for this book. -- Nick Offerman, author of Paddle Your Own Canoe A coherent and enjoyable argument for `not just a knowledge of making but a knowledge of being.' -- Guardian

Author Information

Alexander Langlands is a British archaeologist and medieval historian. He is a regular presenter for the BBC and teaches medieval history at Swansea University. He currently resides in Swansea, Wales.

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