During the twentieth century there was an unprecedented and largely unforeseen transfer of property in Britain from private ownership into the hands of a single charitable institution, the National Trust. In 1945 the Trust owned 112,000 acres and had a membership of 7,850. Fifty years later, when celebrating its centenary, it had a membership of 2 million and the area of land it owned had increased more than fivefold Only relatively recently has the significance of this transfer begun to attract the serious interest of political and social historians. The National Trust and its donors have tended to be diffident about their generosity. The reasons for such generosity prove to be as varied as they are surprising and illuminating. Merlin Waterson's new book, concentrating on the period since 1940, and accompanied throughout by rare and unusual illustrations, sheds new light on the motives of some of the Trust's most important donors. SELLING POINTS: ?First in-depth study of what motivated the individuals who donated to the National Trust some of its greatest properties ?Engaging and insightful account by a key National Trust insider who knew personally many of those he writes about ?Includes rare and historic illustrations as well as some of the finest photographs from the National Trust's own archives REVIEWS: "This Charming, enjoyable book is a parade of all the interesting people who gave liberally to the National Trust." Country Life "The author has an eye for the scandalous titbit and the amusing aside; this book is never, ever, dry." Eastern Daily Press "A touching book, about a subject which is difficult to write about well - generosity." The Telegraph 150 colour ,50 b/w illustrations
