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English Pastoral: An Inheritance - The Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Shepherd's Life Paperback – September 2, 2021
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THE SUNDAY TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR
The new bestseller from the author of The Shepherd's Life
'A beautifully written story of a family, a home and a changing landscape' Nigel Slater
As a boy, James Rebanks's grandfather taught him to work the land the old way. Their family farm in the Lake District hills was part of an ancient agricultural landscape: a patchwork of crops and meadows, of pastures grazed with livestock, and hedgerows teeming with wildlife. And yet, by the time James inherited the farm, it was barely recognisable. The men and women had vanished from the fields; the old stone barns had crumbled; the skies had emptied of birds and their wind-blown song.
English Pastoral is the story of an inheritance: one that affects us all. It tells of how rural landscapes around the world were brought close to collapse, and the age-old rhythms of work, weather, community and wild things were lost. And yet this elegy from the northern fells is also a song of hope: of how, guided by the past, one farmer began to salvage a tiny corner of England that was now his, doing his best to restore the life that had vanished and to leave a legacy for the future.
This is a book about what it means to have love and pride in a place, and how, against all the odds, it may still be possible to build a new pastoral: not a utopia, but somewhere decent for us all.
'A heartfelt book and one that dares to hope' Alan Bennett
'A wonder of a book, fierce, tender, and beautiful' Helen Macdonald
Winner of the Wainwright Prize
Winner of the Fortnum & Mason Food Book of the Year
Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize
Shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize
Longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPenguin
- Publication dateSeptember 2, 2021
- Dimensions5.08 x 0.67 x 7.8 inches
- ISBN-100141982578
- ISBN-13978-0141982571
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Product details
- Publisher : Penguin; 1st edition (September 2, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0141982578
- ISBN-13 : 978-0141982571
- Item Weight : 7.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.08 x 0.67 x 7.8 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #788,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #264 in Sociology of Rural Areas
- #824 in Food Science (Books)
- #1,905 in Environmentalism
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2022With nature generally under horrific assault, you would think corporate farming would be mentioned as the leading cause of "climate change". Certainly it is causing the disappearance of many species of flowers, insects and entire woodlands from the face of the earth. Intensive corporate farming is never mentioned in the media as a major cause, they constantly blame cars, boilers, everything but the truth. This book has been a revelation to me, but not a surprise as I see how money is the basis for just about everything now and never mind the truth or damage caused, sometimes irreversibly. A very good read for those who care about the environment, animals and plants and food. It has a glimmer of hope that changes can be made and people can make a difference if they had awareness. This book delivers that and more. Very highly recommended reading for everyone.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2022ENGLISH PASTORAL : AN INHERITANCE is written by James Rebanks.
His previous books include THE SHEPHERD’S LIFE and THE ILLUSTRATED HERDWICK SHEPHERD.
James Rebanks is a farmer in the Lake District of England, where his family has lived and worked for over 6oo years. His writing is very descriptive, historical, emotional and very lyrical.
ENGLISH PASTORAL has been described as “beautiful and shocking”; “a beautifully written story of a family, a home and a changing landscape”; “told with humility and grace, this story of farming over three generations will be our land’s salvation’.
As a shepherdess and farmer by desire, but not by practicality and trade, I have read many ecological and farming-related books. This one is so personal, so beautifully and lovingly written - it is head over heels above all the rest.
ENGLISH PASTORAL is many things:
It is a memoir; a family history; a naturalist’s diary; very emotional; aspirational; interesting.
It is ‘rough’ at times, speaking of hardship and confusion; a science textbook at times; very practical.
It is an ode to the writings of Wendell Berry, Jane Jacobs and of course, Rachel Carson.
I would give this book 100 stars if I could. *****
- Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2021English Pastoral: An Inheritance by James Rebanks is a wonderful book that takes us into the heart of the English countryside and the legacy associated with the family farm.
This is such a great book. It is part memoir, part nonfiction, part musings, part nature diary, part environmental and conservation in nature.
Here we can follow the author as we see the state of the farming business and industry here today. We can see the threats that are involving the land, the crop, the animals, and what is affecting the family themselves. We can see how this is different from his lineage and ancestors. The evolution of change internally and externally is presented throughout.
A fascinating look at a monumental and fundamental pillar of the English existence.
5/5 stars
- Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2020This book is among other things, a tribute to the classic SILENT SPRING. It is a wake up call from a serious farmer who knows how to write. If you are interested in seeing small farmers remain on the land, read this book. If you are interested in soil health, and wonder how we will feed the world 50 years from now, read this book. If you are willing to consider that farming should be could be treated as a "public need", and that farmers should be compensated for protecting soil health, read this book
- Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021I bought English Pastoral from England when it was first published. The book is now published in the US but under the title Pastoral Song. Amazon should not be bundling the two together as they are doing under the Pastoral Song entry, since it is the same book! It is an excellent book as many reviewers have noted. Amazon is not allowing reviews to be posted yet under the new title.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2020I’m a farmer. This book hits every nail square on the head. We live in a time of cheap food, dwindling numbers of farmers, loss of biodiversity, impoverished soil and soil, climbing debt. And yet there are paths to walk that lead in a new direction. Thanks James for a great book!
Top reviews from other countries
- C SpearmanReviewed in Canada on November 25, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written and an essential book about healing our earth
A combination of poetry and wisdom. A book that explains beautifully how we have lost our way with modern farming and what we can do to heal our earth. A non-fiction book that you can read with the passion of a novel - such a gift, thank you xxx
- Robert BrooksReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening and beautiful!
An incredibly written and insightful book about the trails and tribulations of modern day farming. Highly recommend! Thank you James
- OffGridReviewed in Spain on December 23, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Very quick delivery
Very readable. I recommend it to others.
- JDMReviewed in Australia on September 12, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Such a good read, couldn't put it down.
- Gillian SnoxallReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful!
I would give this beautiful, well-written book a hundred stars if I could. It is a wonderful book. It should be required reading for everyone involved with agriculture, from farmers and farm-workers, to students, to professors – indeed it is a book for every person on the planet. If you are looking for a birthday present, this would be an excellent choice. It is definitely book of the year, and probably book of the century.