THE kaleidoscopic vitality of the eager, laughing, shouting, devil-may-care people in the playground’ inspired folklorists Peter and Iona Opie: husband and wife pioneered the study of British childhood culture, past and present. Together, they collected more than 20,000 works of historic children’s literature—Iona once suggested that she was prevented from writing encouraging slogans on the walls of their house in Hampshire by the absence of any space between bookshelves. Beginning in 1947, they wrote a series of books acclaimed by academics and general readers alike. Theirs was a labour of love. ‘We never earned more, between us, than a London police constable,’ remembered Iona, although they worked ‘all day, almost every day’ during the four decades of their marriage before Peter’s death in 1982. Staying at home, without a car…
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Country Life (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 19, 2025