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ll not pretend that I have found； or find； the occupation altogether congenial； perhaps because at the bottom of my heart I share some of the British contempt for the craft of story…writing。
1 Written in 1911。 — Ed。
I remember a few years ago discussing this matter fully with my friend Mr。 Rudyard Kipling； a most eminent practitioner of that craft； and finding that our views upon it were very similar； if not identical。 He pointed out； I recollect； that all fiction is in its essence an appeal to the emotions； and that this is not the highest class of appeal。 Here； however； we have a subject that might be argued interminably and from many points of view； especially when we bear in mind that there are various classes of imaginative literature。 So far as I am concerned the issue is that though I feel myself more strongly drawn to other pursuits； such as administration or politics or even law； I have been called upon to earn the bread of myself and others out of a kind of by…product of my brain which chances to be saleable； namely； the writing of fiction。
It is fortunate for writers that they do not depend wholly upon the verdict of a hundred or so of contemporary critics。 The history of literature and art goes to show that contemporary criticism seldom makes and never can destroy a reputation； in short； that Time is the only true critic； and that its verdict is the one we have to fear。 It is in the light of this axiom that I proceed to consider my own humble contributions to the sum of romantic literature。 I can assure the reader that I approach this not unamusing task without any prejudice in my own favour。 The test of work is whether it will or will not live； whether it contains within itself the vital germ necessary to a long…continued existence。
Now； although it may seem much to claim； my belief is that some of my tales will live。 Possibly this belief is quite erroneous； in which case in years to e I may be laughed at for its expression。 It is obvious also that a great deal of what I have written is doomed to swift oblivion； since； even if it were all equally good； in the crowded days that are to e； days even more crowded than our own； posterity will not need much of the work of any individual。 If he is remembered at all it will be by but a few books。 The present question is； What chance have I of being so remembered； and I can only hope that my belief in the vitality of at any rate some of my books may be justified。
As it happens with reference to this question of the possible endurance of my work； I am in the position of having a second string to my bow。 Years ago I turned my attention to agriculture and to all the group of problems connected with the land。 First I wrote “A Farmer’s Year。” My object in piling that record — which； if I live； I hope to amplify some day by the addition of a second volume on the same plan — was that in its pages future generations might see a picture of the conditions under which agriculture was practised in England at the end of the nieenth century。
Afterwards I attempted something much more ambitious； namely； a full account of agricultural and social researches carried out during the years 1901 and 1902； which was published under the title of “Rural England。” To be frank； this description is perhaps a little too inclusive； seeing that all England is not described in the multitudinous pages of my book。 It deals； however； with twenty…seven counties and the Channel Islands； or one more than were treated of by Arthur Young a century or so earlier。 After this prolonged effort exhaustion overtook me； and I retired to spend an arduous year or so in classifying and writing down my experiences。 Even now I have not abandoned the hope of dealing with the remaining counties； and after these with Wales； Scotland； and Ireland； but at my present age I feel that it grows a little faint。 The work is too tremendous and； I may add； too costly； since what can be earned from the sale of such volumes will not even suffice to pay their expenses and that of the necessary journeys。
Still I hope that my work may help to show to posterity through the mouths of many witnesses what was the state of the agriculture and the farmers of England at the mencement of the twentieth century。 I trust； therefore； that should my novels be forgotten in the passage of years； “Rural England” and my other books on agriculture may still serve to keep my memory green。
Now I will close this introduction and get to my story。 I fear that the reader may think it all somewhat egotistical； but unfortunately that is a fault inherent in an autobiography； and one without which it would be more or less futile。
Ditchingham：
August 10； 1911。
Chapter 1 CHILDHOOD
Danish origin of the Haggards — Early history in Herts and Norfolk — H。 R。 H。‘s father and mother — His birth at Bradenham； Norfolk — Early characteristics — First school — Garsington Rectory； Oxon； and Farmer Quatermain — Lively times at Dunkirk — Adventure at Treport — Cologne — His uncle Fowle。
There has always been a tradition in my family that we sprang from a certain Sir Andrew Ogard； or Agard； or Haggard （I believe his name is spelt in all three ways in a single contemporaneous document）； a Danish gentleman of the famous Guildenstjerne family whose seat was at Aagaard in Jutland。
About a year ago I visited this place while I was making researches for my book； “Rural Denmark。” It is a wild； wind…swept plain dotted with tumuli dating from unknown times。 There by the old manor house stand the moated ruins of the castle which was burnt in the Peasant’s War； I believe when Sir Andrew’s elder brother was its lord。 Here the Guildenstjerne family remained for generations and in the neighbouring church their arms； which are practically the same as those we bear today； are everywhere to be seen。
This Sir Andrew was a very remarkable man。 He appears to have e from Denmark with nothing and to have died possessed of manors in eleven English counties； besides much money and the Danish estate which he seems to have inherited。2 Also he distinguished himself greatly in the French wars of the time of Henry VI； where he held high mand under the Duke of Bedford； whose executor he subsequently became。 Moreover； he did not neglect his spiritual welfare； since； together with his father…inlaw； Sir John Clifton； he erected one of the towers of Wymondham Church； in which he is buried on the north side of the high altar； and bequeathed to the said church “a piece of the True Cross and a piece of the Thorns of the Crown。”
2 See Carthew’s History of West and East Bradenham； pp。 87…89。
I regret to have to add that there is at present no actual proof of the descent of my family from this Sir Andrew。 Among the other manors that he possessed； however； was that of Rye in Hertfordshire； where our arms are still to be seen over the gateway of Rye House； which he appears to have built； that afterwards became famous in connection with the celebrated Rye House Plot。
The Haggard family reappears at Ware within a few miles of the Rye House in the year 1561； in the person of a churchwarden and freeholder of the town； which suggests that he was a citizen of some importance。 At Ware they remained for about 150 years。 To this I can testify； for once finding myself in that town with an hour to spare I went through the registers； in which the name of Haggard occurs frequently。 One member of the family； I recollect； had caused a number of his children to be baptised on the same day； Oct。 28； 1688； though whether this was because he suddenly became reconciled to the Church after a period of alienation； or is to be accounted for by a quarrel with the clergyman； I cannot tell。 Or had the civil wars anything to do with the matter？
Subsequently the family moved to Old Ford House； St。 Mary Stratford…le…Bow； where； I believe； they owned property which； if they had kept it； would have made them very rich today。
I recollect my father telling me a story of how one of them； I think it must have been John Haggard who died in 1776； my great； great； great…grandfather； sold the Bow property and moved to Bennington in Hertfordshire because of a burglary that took place at his house which seems to have frightene