International Journal of Fieldwork Studies, 2003 1 (1)

Book Reviews

Discovering Cities: Glasgow

Michael Pacione
Series Editors: Peter S Fox and Christopher M. Law
The Geographical Association, Sheffield, 2002
50 pages
Paperback: £8.95
ISBN 1-903448-88-3

This latest volume in the Discovering Cities series is targeted at both general readers and post-16 geography students who wish to explore the dynamic cityscapes of Glasgow. The volume is copiously illustrated with historical and contemporary maps and an array of contrasting images of the city. These perspectives provide vivid exemplification of a city that has, and still is, experiencing substantial and rapid transformation.

The text is divided into three substantive sections. Firstly the author provides a concise historical overview of Glasgow's early settlement and industrialism. The role of Glasgow as a nineteenth century industrial powerhouse and the impacts of this on the morphology of the city and its population are presented clearly. Whilst this section is essentially a summary of the evolution of the city, it is written in an accessible way that provides a useful context for the next section 'Towards the post-industrial city'.

One of the strengths of this volume is the author's engagement with post-industrial urbanism and the impacts of the shifts from a production based to a consumption oriented economy with all the inherent consequences for the city and its inhabitants. In covering the recent economic transformation of the city the context for fragmentation, as indicated by socio-spatial polarisation and segregation, is set. Issues related to geographies of disadvantage are articulated, particularly within the context of the challenge of the regeneration of the city's extensive peripheral post-war housing schemes. Within this middle section the author also outlines briefly some of the recent initiatives to revitalise areas of the central city through flagship schemes such as the development of the Science Centre at Prince's Dock, and the gentrification the Merchant City.

The final section of the book comprises descriptions of three contrasting city trails. In Trail 1: the historic city centre, the author provides details and illustrations of a 3km walk through the city centre. Trail 2, also 3km long, makes a transect through the Victorian city from Central Station to Glasgow Green. Both of these focus largely on historical and architectural elements of the cityscape. The longer, circular Trail 3 provides a choice of two contrasting routes, one focusing on 'the residential mosaic -from inner city to outer city' and the other on 'urban economic change - towards the post-industrial city'.

For anyone with an interest in, or curiosity about, Glasgow this book provides a concise, readable and contemporary view of the city. It is also to be welcomed as a timely and useful addition to the series.

Janet Speake
Liverpool Hope University College

Discovering Cities: Nottingham

Irene Hardill
Series Editors: Peter S. Fox and Christopher M. Law
The Geographical Association, Sheffield, 2002
50 pages
Paperback: £8.95
ISBN 1-903448-89-1

One of a series of urban guides designed for post-16 geography students and teachers undertaking fieldwork in cities, the Nottingham guide offers a background to the growth and restructuring of the city plus four small-area study trails.

The use of extracts from the novels of D.H. Lawrence, S. Middleton and A. Sillitoe in the Introduction evoke images of a city with intrigue, vitality and an unconventional beauty. The text thereafter takes the form of a chronological and factual narrative of the development of the city from its origins as a Celtic cave settlement, through its industrialisation and de-industrialisation, to its contemporary position as a culturally revitalised city attracting new commercial enterprises. At this point in the guide we are reminded that despite various processes and initiatives, social and spatial polarisation still exist in this "two-speed city". The level of detail is appropriate and enables the relevant physical, social and economic consequences of the urbanisation process to be drawn out. Specific locational references, however, do depend on either prior knowledge of the city or access to more detailed maps than can be contained within the guide.

The Guide offers four trails, each prefaced by details of distance, walking time and mobility issues

1. Inner City Nottingham: a 24-hour economy
2. Out-of-town enterprise: Riverside Retail Park and Lenton Industrial Estate
3. The canal corridor: managed urban change
4. Old and new elites: inner-city living

The trails do meet the aims stated on the cover of the guide in that they "give a sense of place and an appreciation of a fascinating and often undervalued physical environment". The descriptions of the areas and buildings are very interesting and well illustrated in this respect. However, the emphasis seems to be on their historical background rather than necessarily drawing attention to phenomena or issues relating to the intended foci of the trail, such as 24-hour living or inner-city living in the context of Nottingham as a "two-speed city". For the recreational or general city explorer this would not be a problem and the guides would be undeniably useful and enriching. For the teacher or lecturer planning fieldwork activities supplementary texts might be recommended.

Vivien Fox
Liverpool Hope University College

Classic landforms of the Assynt and Coigach Area

Tim Lawson
Series Editors: Christopher Green, Michael Naish and Sally Naish
The Geographical Association, Sheffield, 2002
52 pages
Paperback: £8.95
ISBN 1-843770-17-2

Classic landforms of the Brecon Beacons

Richard Shakesby
Series Editors: Christopher Green, Michael Naish and Sally Naish
The Geographical Association, Sheffield, 2002
48 pages
Paperback: £8.95
ISBN 1-843770-16-4

Both these publications are part of the latest guides to be published by the Geographical Association (www.geography.org.uk) in conjunction with the British Geomorphological Research Group. They are recent additions to the Classic Landform Guide Series that provides detailed accounts of some of the classic geomorphological locations found in the British Isles.

Assynt and Coigach Area

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the range and variety of landforms that can be found in the Assynt and Coigach area, North-West Scotland. It provides a concise, readable and fully illustrated account of the evolution of the regions landscape. It begins with some background on key aspects of the dramatic and varied scenery in North-West Scotland. The geology is thoroughly outlined particularly as this is an area of significant geological interest. The last glacial and post-glacial histories are reviewed to provide some of the key aspects of landscape evolution discussed in detail in later sections of the guide. What follows is a detailed account of seven particular localities to be found within the area. The localities selected are: Stac Pollaidh ('cnoc-and-lochan' landscape), Canisp and Stronchrubie (glacial and periglacial landforms and features), Lochan Tuath (corrie glacier landforms and sediments), Beinn an Fhurain (periglacial landforms), Traligill Valley (karst scenery and landscape), The Allt nan Uamh Valley (caves) and The Stoer Peninsula (coastal landforms).

The guide will be of benefit to those with a keen interest in this part of Scotland or for students/lecturers who want to investigate a variety of geological, geomorphological and coastal landforms in a relatively small area.

Brecon Beacons

This guide provides an account of some of the landforms to be found in the upland setting of the Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales. It provides a detailed description and discussion of scarp-foot landforms and their possible origins as either marking the outer limits of small glaciers (moraines) or debris accumulations at the bases of large snow patches [nivation ridges or pronival (protalus) ramparts]. The guide begins with some background information on the geological and glacial histories of the area before presenting a detailed discussion of the possible origins of the enigmatic scarp-foot landforms. Three principal larger areas are selected for detailed investigation: Fforest Fawr Area, Mynydd Du and Bannau Brycheiniog.

The guide would be of particular interest to students/lecturers who want a location in which to investigate and debate the origins of landforms found at the foot of escarpments in areas that have undergone cold climatic conditions.

Each guide includes clear maps, diagrams and photographs and invaluable information on location and access. As with other titles in this series there is a glossary of terms and ideas for further reading.

Kevin Crawford
Liverpool Hope University College