Introduction

I've had in mind some time a blog for which the central subject would be the history of Britain in the 17th century. The topic seems odd enough to require an apology, which I will provide in a subsequent blog entry; for now I offer an entirely sufficient excuse for any blog: the subject interests me and I have something to say about it.

As a field of study, this period of history is mostly a closed book in the sense that most of the artificts likely to be found, have been. And they have been examined and considered by men and women of sound judgment and extensive knowledge. But because the field is bounded, does not mean it isn't vast. On almost any question, it is possible to wander satisfyingly far down a winding path in search of an answer. This blog will be a tour along some of those paths.

I am not qualified to guide such walks. I will be one of the sojourners. By trade I am an experienced software engineer—a software architect—employed (while employed I may be) by a computer processor design company. I have no academic background to speak of except in engineering and the hard sciences. I was in England and Scotland once, for a few weeks, 35 years ago; I've seen Ireland only from the air. These limitations will greatly effect the plan and the progress of this blog.

The title of this blog is influenced by the fine essay of Henry David Thoreau, Walking. I have the idea that frequent, short essays on this wide but familiar subject will be like Thoreau's jaunts around Concord, where he found

my vicinity affords many good walks; and though for so many years I have walked almost every day, and sometimes for several days together, I have not yet exhausted them. An absolutely new prospect is a great happiness, and I can still get this any afternoon. Two or three hours' walking will carry me to as strange a country as I expect ever to see.

Next entry: The plan of this blog.