. . . they do things differently there”

This quote opens L P Hartley’s “The Go-Between”, which I read when I was studying O level English literature back in the 1970s, and have read a couple of times since.

It has been quoted in various ways by the media over the years because it is so true, or is it? In some ways, things have stayed the same. I expect people of yesteryear complained about many of the things we complain about today such as prices and unreliable public transport to name two examples.

We are encouraged to look back on the past as if it was better than our time, but the comfort and convenience of technology, at least in this country provides a life away from cold, dark mines, mills and depots, and from the constant physical demand of housewifery.

Poverty and privilege still exist though, even in this day and age, so are the people and actions of the past really dissimilar to ours, or is it just that their tools were more rough and ready?