--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have long been interested in landscape…" description: "\"I have long been interested in landscape history, and when younger and more robust I used to do much tramping of the English landscape in search of anc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/penelope-lively-3959_ancient_i-have-long-been-interested-in-landscape_719608.png" --- # I have long been interested in landscape history, and when… ![“I have long been interested in landscape history, and when younger and more robust I used to do much tramping of the English landscape in search of ancient field systems, drove roads, indications of prehistoric settlement. Towns and cities, too, which always retain the ghost of their earlier…” quote by Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/penelope-lively-3959_ancient_i-have-long-been-interested-in-landscape_719608.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/penelope-lively-3959_ancient_i-have-long-been-interested-in-landscape_719608.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/329/penelope-lively-3959_ancient_i-have-long-been-interested-in-landscape_719608.png) > “I have long been interested in landscape history, and when younger and more robust I used to do much tramping of the English landscape in search of ancient field systems, drove roads, indications of prehistoric settlement. Towns and cities, too, which always retain the ghost of their earlier incarnations beneath today's concrete and glass.” [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on exploring England’s ancient terrain, noting how modern cities conceal layers of past human activity. **In simple terms:** Modern places hide old histories beneath them. Key Takeaway Look for hidden histories in everyday surroundings. Themes history place memory urban change archaeology Mood curious reflective nostalgic Type observational historical When to use this quote - Walking tours - urban planning - heritage preservation - education - tourism Key Concepts Landscape archaeology urban palimpsest temporal layers Questions to Reflect On - How do you discover hidden pasts in your city? - What responsibilities do we have to preserve landscape memory? A Different Perspective Modern development can erase or obscure these traces, making them hard to study. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ancient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient/) [Ancient Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ancient-field-4384368/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Concrete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concrete/) [English Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-landscape-4233397/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Ghost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghost/) [Glasses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glasses/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Incarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incarnation/) [Indication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indication/) [Interested Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-landscape-2286962/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Landscape History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape-history-2041489/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Prehistoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prehistoric/) [Prehistoric Settlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prehistoric-settlement-5659513/) [Prehistoric times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prehistoric-times/) [Robust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robust/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Settlement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settlement/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [I have long been interested in landscape history, and when younger and more robust I used to do much tramping of the English landscape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-have-long-been-interested-in-landscape-history-and-when-younger-and-2/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Landscape is history made visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-jackson/landscape-is-history-made-visible/) [J. B. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-jackson/) > [I've become really interested in the landscape but not as landscape but more as it relates to mood and how we live and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-ve-become-really-interested-in-the-landscape-but-not-as-landscape/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [What I am interested in now is the landscape. Pictures without people. I wouldn't be surprised if eventually there are no people in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/what-i-am-interested-in-now-is-the-landscape-pictures-without-people/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I always thought of the English landscape as being English gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson/i-always-thought-of-the-english-landscape-as-being-english-gardens/) [Robert Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson/) > [“HANNAH: …English landscape was invented by gardeners imitating foreign painters who were evoking classical authors. The whole thing was brought home in the luggage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/hannah-english-landscape-was-invented-by-gardeners-imitating-foreign/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [Georgian England, to see those wonderful houses being built. And the clothes were interesting too, although I wouldn't want to wear a wig. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-titchmarsh/georgian-england-to-see-those-wonderful-houses-being-built-and-the/) [Alan Titchmarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-titchmarsh/) > [The English landscape at its finest - such as I saw this morning - possesses a quality that the landscapes of other nations, however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/the-english-landscape-at-its-finest-such-as-i-saw-this-morning/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [I'm interested in the landscape of the face, the way in which light and shadow fall across the forms. That's really my subject matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-emsley/i-m-interested-in-the-landscape-of-the-face-the-way-in-which-light/) [Paul Emsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-emsley/) > [I have always been very interested in landscape... I find that all natural forms are a source of unending interest - tree trunks, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-moore/i-have-always-been-very-interested-in-landscape-i-find-that-all/) [Henry Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-moore/) > [“Compared to prehistoric times, ninety is the new forty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-kreamer/compared-to-prehistoric-times-ninety-is-the-new-forty/) [Anne Kreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-kreamer/) > [The trouble with water-and there is trouble with water-is that they're not making any more of it. They're not making any less, mind, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marq-de-villiers/the-trouble-with-water-and-there-is-trouble-with-water-is-that-they/) [Marq de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marq-de-villiers/) > [“I didn’t know exactly when cars were invented, but I figured that was like prehistoric times—back when people watched black-and-white TV and hunted dinosaurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-didn-t-know-exactly-when-cars-were-invented-but-i-figured-that-was/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Studying elephants is like going back into prehistoric times. In size, elephants are the closest thigns we have to dinosaurs. There are days when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-smith/studying-elephants-is-like-going-back-into-prehistoric-times-in-size/) [Roland Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-smith/) > [Most cats feel that bird-catching is their duty; the instinct goes back to prehistoric times. Amber keeps in practice by chasing moths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/most-cats-feel-that-bird-catching-is-their-duty-the-instinct-goes/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) ## More by Penelope Lively > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“The question is, shall it or shall it not be linear history. I've always thought a kaleidoscopic view might be an interesting heresey. Shake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/the-question-is-shall-it-or-shall-it-not-be-linear-history-i-ve/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [There's a preoccupation with memory and the operation of memory and a rather rapacious interest in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/there-s-a-preoccupation-with-memory-and-the-operation-of-memory-and-a/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“He felt marvellously conscious of the moment, of here and now, of this day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/he-felt-marvellously-conscious-of-the-moment-of-here-and-now-of-this/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [People die, but money never does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/people-die-but-money-never-does/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“But her thoughts are often of the past. That evanescent, pervasive, slippery internal landscape known to no one else, that vast accretion of data…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/but-her-thoughts-are-often-of-the-past-that-evanescent-pervasive/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Unless I am a part of everything I am nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/unless-i-am-a-part-of-everything-i-am-nothing/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Getting to know someone else involves curiosity about where they have come from, who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/getting-to-know-someone-else-involves-curiosity-about-where-they-have/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [I'm intrigued by the way in which physical appearance can often direct a person's life; things happen differently for a beautiful woman than for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-m-intrigued-by-the-way-in-which-physical-appearance-can-often/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Since then, I have just read and read - but, that said, I suppose there is a raft of writers to whom I return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/since-then-i-have-just-read-and-read-but-that-said-i-suppose-there-is/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“I have a print - you can buy them at the Victoria and Albert Museum - of a photograph of the village street of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-have-a-print-you-can-buy-them-at-the-victoria-and-albert-museum-of/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Every novel generates its own climate, when you get going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/every-novel-generates-its-own-climate-when-you-get-going/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“The power of language. Preserving the ephemeral; giving form to dreams, permanence to sparks of sunlight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/the-power-of-language-preserving-the-ephemeral-giving-form-to-dreams/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [We all need a past - that's where our sense of identity comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/we-all-need-a-past-that-s-where-our-sense-of-identity-comes-from/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [Conventional forms of narrative allow for different points of view, but for this book I wanted a structure whereby each of the main characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/conventional-forms-of-narrative-allow-for-different-points-of-view/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) [Explore all 118 Penelope Lively quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) ## More Ancient quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [I don't know if I've come of age, but I'm certainly older now. I feel shrunken, as if there's a tiny ancient Oliver Tate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dunthorne/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-come-of-age-but-i-m-certainly-older-now-i-feel/) [Joe Dunthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dunthorne/) > [Tentatively I stood a great lump of wood on the chopping block and bought the axe down on it. It flew into two perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/tentatively-i-stood-a-great-lump-of-wood-on-the-chopping-block-and/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Men must speak English who can write Sanskrit; they must speak a modern language who write, perchance, an ancient and universal one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/men-must-speak-english-who-can-write-sanskrit-they-must-speak-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [The Tao is the center of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge. 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And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Ancient societies had anthropomorphic gods: a huge pantheon expanding into centuries of dynastic drama; fathers and sons, martyred heroes, star-crossed lovers, the deaths of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hiddleston/ancient-societies-had-anthropomorphic-gods-a-huge-pantheon-expanding/) [Tom Hiddleston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hiddleston/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [Those of us with this ancient compulsion to tell stories sometimes start with a single kernel of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/those-of-us-with-this-ancient-compulsion-to-tell-stories-sometimes/) [Edward P. 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