Fantasticks by Nicholas Breton - eBook

A shepherd’s calendar like no other, by Nicholas Breton was first published in London in 1626, the year of Breton’s death. is the capstone to the work of a prolific early modern master whose other prose works include . Structured in sections corresponding to the months of the year, hours of the day, and the principal Christian holidays, this brief work is a captivating record of early modern customs and natural history. To quote Alexander B. Grosart, who edited Breton’s complete works in 1879: to experience is to be “carried captive away back to ‘Merry England’ of the ‘Olden Time’ […]. Carry it to the greenwood with you, Reader, and if thou art not charmed, I dub thee—soulless.” This edition has been established in consultation with photographs of the original 1626 edition and contains typographical ornaments modeled on those appearing in it.

Nicholas Breton was the second son of the London merchant William Breton, and a stepson to the poet George Gascoigne. He was a prolific writer of prose and verse, with publications appearing at regular intervals from 1577 up until the time of his death. His poetic works include: ; and His prose works include: ; and .