{"title":"Robert C. Ritchie","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating works of \u003cem\u003eRobert C. Ritchie\u003c\/em\u003e, a renowned historian with a keen interest in cultural and social movements throughout history. In our specially curated collection, you'll find insightful books that delve deep into the intriguing past, offering you a front-row seat to historical narratives enriched by Ritchie's extensive research and engaging storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong his notable works is \u003cem\u003eThe Lure of the Beach\u003c\/em\u003e, a fascinating exploration of how beaches have evolved as significant cultural spaces over time, shaping society’s leisure practices and economic endeavours. This book is not just a historical account, but a vivid portrayal of social evolution, showing Ritchie's flair for blending history with analysis of cultural transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you're a history enthusiast or simply curious about the stories that have shaped our world, Robert C. Ritchie's books provide a thoughtful and accessible gateway into the past. Each page invites readers to reflect on how history impacts our present and future, fuelling your imagination and understanding of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-lure-of-the-beach-by-robert-c-ritchie-9780520395572","title":"The Lure of the Beach","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA human and global take on a beloved vacation spot.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe crash of surf, smell of salted air, wet whorls of sand underfoot. These are the sensations of the beach, that environment that has drawn humans to its life-sustaining shores for millennia. And while the gull’s cry and the cove’s splendour have remained constant throughout time, our relationship with the beach has been as fluid as the runnels left behind by the tide’s turning.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Lure of the Beach\u003c\/em\u003e is a chronicle of humanity's history with the coast, taking us from the seaside pleasure palaces of Roman elites and the aquatic rituals of medieval pilgrims, to the venues of modern resort towns and beyond. Robert C. Ritchie traces the contours of the material and social economies of the beach throughout time, covering changes in the social status of beachgoers, the technology of transport, and the development of fashion (from nudity to Victorianism and back again), as well as the geographical spread of modern beach-going from England to France, across the Mediterranean, and from nineteenth-century America to the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd as climate change and rising sea levels erode the familiar faces of our coasts, we are poised for a contemporary reckoning with our relationship—and responsibilities—to our beaches and their ecosystems. \u003cem\u003eThe Lure of the Beach\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates that whether as a commodified pastoral destination, a site of ecological splendour, or a flashpoint between private ownership and public access, the history of the beach is a human one that deserves to be told now more than ever before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46833663541484,"sku":"9780520395572","price":47.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7176053482373.jpg?v=1758473738"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/robert-c-ritchie.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}