In this collection of essays, Richard Church explores themes of countryside, poetry, family, and finding inspiration in the mundane. Split into two parts 'Moving About' and 'Sitting Still', these titles reflect the happy combination of travel sketches with literary criticism, of observations on household duties with the philosophy drawn from a lifetime's study and practice of the art of writing.

First published in 1965, A Stroll Before Dark muses on everything from the wonder of the aurora borealis to the smallest details of life with a refreshing clarity and warmth. Whether discussing the habits of his pet cat, the poetry of John Betjeman, the differences between the changing, and yet unchanging, face of his beloved Kent or a visit to a South African game reserve, Church's readers will be enriched and entertained by the breadth of his knowledge, the elegance of his prose, and, above all, by his compassion, humour, and love of life.