English Pastoral: An Inheritance
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- Author：James Rebanks
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Summary
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
'I was thrilled by it' Philip Pullman
Shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize | Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize | Shortlisted for Fortnum & Mason Food Book Award | Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize | Longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
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
'I was thrilled by it' Philip Pullman
Shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize | Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize | Shortlisted for Fortnum & Mason Food Book Award | Longlisted for the Wainwright Prize | Longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize
Reviews
Mary-Bridget
，
This was unexpectedly moving！ It's pragmatic and written in Rebanks' unsentimental style， but nonetheless the message behind the narrative is emotionally challenging for anyone who loves the natural world and wants it to survive in harmony with humans。 This was unexpectedly moving！ It's pragmatic and written in Rebanks' unsentimental style， but nonetheless the message behind the narrative is emotionally challenging for anyone who loves the natural world and wants it to survive in harmony with humans。 。。。more
Cmw
，
I have to admit I liked James Rebank’s first book better than this。 Some of the same ground was covered， it flitted around too much with the same rewilding message over and over throughout and ended up making me feel rather concerned than hopeful。 It often felt like I was listening to a rant， unfortunately peppered with unnecessary expletives， rather than a well composed treatise on the evolution and necessary directions for agriculture。 I had never contemplated the simple act of tilling the soi I have to admit I liked James Rebank’s first book better than this。 Some of the same ground was covered， it flitted around too much with the same rewilding message over and over throughout and ended up making me feel rather concerned than hopeful。 It often felt like I was listening to a rant， unfortunately peppered with unnecessary expletives， rather than a well composed treatise on the evolution and necessary directions for agriculture。 I had never contemplated the simple act of tilling the soil was so destructive， so that was a revelation however。 I also admire Rebanks greatly for his respect for the past and caretaking of the future， and intelligent acknowledgment of the economic forces that are often driving us in the wrong direction。 His small efforts and good example are more of what is needed， but the financial realities of the market still seem too overwhelming。 Like climate change， it all feels too little， too late。 。。。more
Lucie Van
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One of the most important works of this age， insightful and enduring。 This book is essential in how we reconceptualise farming for the future。
Jen
，
I loved James Rebanks’s previous book “The Shepherds Life” and was excited to read his nature writing again。 Along with gorgeous descriptions of the English countryside and farm life， this book also encourages you to stop and think about the downside to cheap food and the disconnect between the consumer and the product， thanks to the convenience and accessibility of supermarkets。 A great read and one I’d recommend。
Vivienne
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Beautifully written and although depressing in its description of how farming developed in the 20th century， ultimately James Rebanks maintains an optimistic outlook。 Through this book Rebanks delivers an important message。 Will we heed it？
Sarah Meehan
，
I really enjoyed this honest reflection of farming， especially the lyrical descriptions of the countryside mixed with the clear sense of fierce unrelenting toil and love for the land。
notentirely
，
Excellent。 Weaves personal history with important climate and agriculture information in a balanced and engaging way。 I hope Americans take to this book， it is overdue for us to all understand what we’re doing to our future through our exploitation of farming in the modern age。
Frazer MacDiarmid
，
If I had known this was going to be a book about farming I probably wouldn't have picked it up， but I'm so pleased that I did end up reading it。'English Pastoral'， part memoir， part call for agricultural change， charts the history of a farm in England's Lake District， and the family who have worked it。 （It is not in fact a nod to Roth's 'American Pastoral'， at least not as far as I can tell。） The three parts follow the narrator through his idyllic， bucolic childhood， learning from his grandfathe If I had known this was going to be a book about farming I probably wouldn't have picked it up， but I'm so pleased that I did end up reading it。'English Pastoral'， part memoir， part call for agricultural change， charts the history of a farm in England's Lake District， and the family who have worked it。 （It is not in fact a nod to Roth's 'American Pastoral'， at least not as far as I can tell。） The three parts follow the narrator through his idyllic， bucolic childhood， learning from his grandfather's purist approach to farming; his growing disillusionment with the corporate， large-scale direction farming that was consuming his land and his joy; and finally his vision for the kind of farming he wants his children to inherit， one that respects nature， its beauty and diversity。Rebanks has a lyrical， clear-eyed style of writing about the joys of nature， and of beauty that surprises。 His imagery and descriptions seemed fresh and not derivative。 His sheer delight in his land， in both the grand and small things that happen on it， is charming and contagious。 At the same time， the book is not starry-eyed。 The book's structure allows Rebanks to be clear in purpose and argument。 It is difficult to imagine anyone reading it who would deny that change is needed in humanity's relationship with its food。 Yet it doesn't read as preachy。 The author does very well with laying out the complexities of the problem， and of warning against demonising or beatifying any of the players。 Farmers want to farm more sustainably， to take pride in their land and their work。 They must be respected and not just told what to do， or have it done for them。 They need to be worked with， not against。 Rebanks doesn't dwell on it， but I loved his descriptions of his relationships with his father and grandfather， and how these relationships are reflected in his own relationships with his young children。 I think perhaps the book could have benefitted from more of this。 For example， his wife （Helen？） is no more than an outline。 There may be quite legitimate concerns for privacy here， but I think this kind of book thrives on interpersonal dynamics。These passages I think demonstrate why I've describe Rebanks' writing as lyrical， and at times even spiritual:'Our land is like a poem， in a patchwork landscape of other poems， written by hundreds of people， both those here and now and the many hundreds that came before us， with each generation adding new layers of meaning and experience。 And the poem， if you can read it， tells a complex truth。 It has both moments of great beauty and of heartbreak。 It tells of human triumph and failings， of what is good in people and what is flawed; and what we need， and how in our greed we can destroy precious things。 It tells of what stays the same， and what changes; and of honest hard-working folk， clinging on over countless generations， to avoid being swept away by the giant waves of a storm as the world changes。 It is also the story of those who lost their grip and were swept away from the land， but who still care， and are now trying to find their way home。''I have worked here my whole life， but I am only now beginning to truly know this piece of land。 I stumble across a field at a different time of day， or in different light， and I feel as if I have never seen it before - not the way it is now。 The more I learn about it， the more beautiful our farm and valley becomes。 It pains me to ever be away; I never want to be wrenched from this place and its constant motion。 The longer I am here， the clearer I hear the music of this valley: the Jenny wren in the undergrowth; the Scots pines creaking and groaning in the wind; the meadow grasses whispering。 The distinction between me and this place blurs until I become part of it， and when they set me in the earth here， it will be the conclusion of a longer lifelong story of return。 The 'I' and the 'me' fades away， erodes with each passing day， until it is already an effort to remember who I am and why I am supposed to matter。 The modern world worships the idea of the self， the individual， but it is a gilded cage: there is another kind of freedom in becoming absorbed in a little life on the land。 In a noisy age， I think perhaps trying to live quietly might be a virtue。'This book is both a delight to read， and a real challenge。 。。。more
Tanzey
，
A description of the changing practice of farming in Britain over the last 80 years。 The author has lived on the Lakeland farm since he was a baby and sees the changes first hand。 He is the third generation to farm there and now the farming is in transition to a more environmentally aware way of management。 The book did not provide me with anything new but it is a worthwhile read if the important ideas around farming for sustainability and wildlife are of interest。
Clive Ashman
，
No need for me to repeat other people's far-more capable summaries on here of all those mega issues that James Rebank's second book sweeps across - there's plenty of others do it so much better than me here， already。 But I'm still glad， quietly to report my own modest satisfaction at having read it: and not just because he starts off with Virgil， a Roman poet's 'Georgics'。 Admitting to you first how there's some more pleasure to be had， at the micro-level - all those anonymised Cumbrian location No need for me to repeat other people's far-more capable summaries on here of all those mega issues that James Rebank's second book sweeps across - there's plenty of others do it so much better than me here， already。 But I'm still glad， quietly to report my own modest satisfaction at having read it: and not just because he starts off with Virgil， a Roman poet's 'Georgics'。 Admitting to you first how there's some more pleasure to be had， at the micro-level - all those anonymised Cumbrian locations & characters which personally seem so identifiable: like Penrith's one-time 'Bluebell Bookshop' and its then-owner （concisely painted at p。148 by Rebanks， his shop a place of frequent resort for me， strolling into town on quiet weekday lunchtimes）。 Or else those cataclysmic climate-events like the recurring Carlisle Floods of 2005-2009 （pp。184 & 212） which seem to go with life in that county。 Last but not least in the 'Beast from the East' （2017） - or else Storm Ellen: assailing this city and The Lakes alike， in December 2015 - with Glenridding as that （innominate） Cumbrian 'village' Rebanks describes as her anonymised victim （p。181） when half the rocks of Helvellyn were swept downhill， into its few streets。 Triggering my own private memories - as a volunteer gingerly driving my old Land Rover along the disintegrating roadway bordering Ullswater's overflown lake; loaded to the roof with vital supplies for 21st century residents who might still have had broadband but stood in far greater need of food & fresh water， of rescue from rockfalls。Whereat we move straightaway back - from the micro to the macro， and Rebanks' bigger message: of how the industrialisation & globalisation of farming has brought us all to this pass - its effects in global warming。 Whether wise words from just one man in Cumbria can be enough to turn this tide， I very much doubt; but the more of us who read his excellent book， then the greater the chance that his writing may achieve a change in global opinion; one at least comparable to that obtained by Rachel Carson's original 'Silent Spring' - James Rebanks' personal copy of which （as he pointedly notes， p。148） had been bought in Penrith's （sadly now-closed） famous 'Bluebell Bookshop'。When we have little more than eight hundred independent bookshops like it now left us， trading across the whole UK （and only one retail chain; you know who I mean。。。） then Rebanks' smaller lesson from this last point is one simpler to cope with， and maybe more doable。 Support your local independent bookshop， that's what he means。 Not to mention all those independent publishers who - in turn - help to support them。 And you know who I'm referring to here: it's a Roman fort just outside Penrith （shown as 'Old Penrith' on maps） which we know Virgil's lot would once have called 'Voreda'。 A publisher now discoverable online - that's if your broadband's still working， there's still a fresh water supply。。。。 。。。more
David Freeman
，
Just like I want to hand over our ‘farm’ to our son。
Malcolm Schaffer
，
This is the second book by Lakeland farmer James Rebanks and as with his first book A Shepherds Life it teaches much about the reality and challenges of farming 。While I enjoyed his first book this is a step up in the quality of writing 。The book is part family memoir and part critique of recent farming methods and one of the joys of the book is the authors ability to bring those two parts together coherently He describes the changes he made to his farm land and the gain for not just his propert This is the second book by Lakeland farmer James Rebanks and as with his first book A Shepherds Life it teaches much about the reality and challenges of farming 。While I enjoyed his first book this is a step up in the quality of writing 。The book is part family memoir and part critique of recent farming methods and one of the joys of the book is the authors ability to bring those two parts together coherently He describes the changes he made to his farm land and the gain for not just his property but for the wildlife and countryside around 。It should be compulsory reading for all engaged with the British countryside in offering hope and a positive way forward 。He gains by tapping into the knowledge of others especially environmentalists to create significant change that we all gain from‘What will our descendants say of us ，years from now？’，he asks at the end of the book。I believe they will say that here was a man of vision who pointed us to a better future。What I am less clear about is whether we listened 。。。more
Ralph Lea
，
If you have ever eaten food you should read this
Liz Barker
，
Excellent and worthwhile read。 A brilliant spokesperson for sustainable farming and regenerating our land
Joanne Van
，
This is a book for today。 80s economics and hippy communes are the past。Excellent and convincing arguments for a realistic （but hopeful！） approach to the future of sustainable farming。
Erica
，
5 stars。 Great！ I loved it- laughed， cried， reminisced。 There were a couple spots where I found the syntax and/or punctuation odd but I think that's a product of reading the UK edition。 The US edition is now out （with a different title） and I assume some of that would have been tweaked。 5 stars。 Great！ I loved it- laughed， cried， reminisced。 There were a couple spots where I found the syntax and/or punctuation odd but I think that's a product of reading the UK edition。 The US edition is now out （with a different title） and I assume some of that would have been tweaked。 。。。more
Katy Burton
，
I’d like everyone to read this book。 Not everyone will have the resources or ability to affect much change。 Not everyone will see the point， but we must learn。 Must pause。 Must change。 Politics regularly stamps it’s feet about agriculture but simply doesn’t care what happens。 People rail against conservation because they see it as ‘a bunch of do gooders’ but rarely spend any time at all thinking about what and why and how things should be conserved。 We are too selfish。 This book is hopeful and w I’d like everyone to read this book。 Not everyone will have the resources or ability to affect much change。 Not everyone will see the point， but we must learn。 Must pause。 Must change。 Politics regularly stamps it’s feet about agriculture but simply doesn’t care what happens。 People rail against conservation because they see it as ‘a bunch of do gooders’ but rarely spend any time at all thinking about what and why and how things should be conserved。 We are too selfish。 This book is hopeful and we need more of that。 。。。more
Wildwoila
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Repudiates intensive industrial farming。 Poetically， and nostalgically， celebrates the holistic wisdom of tradition。 An impassioned introduction to the tensions in modern agriculture， but lacks deeply considered solutions。
5greenway
，
A strong six out of five for me。 Part memoir， part horror story， part a guide to the future; engagingly direct and （cliche klaxon） unputdownable。 Claims a centre ground where there's a real chance for change， hope everyone who needs to read this does so。 A strong six out of five for me。 Part memoir， part horror story， part a guide to the future; engagingly direct and （cliche klaxon） unputdownable。 Claims a centre ground where there's a real chance for change， hope everyone who needs to read this does so。 。。。more
DaN McKee
，
I was bought this book as a gift and， as a vegetarian， assumed I would hate it because， well， farmers。 Sure enough， there is a lot of offhand animal exploitation discussed across these snapshots of farming life past and present， but Rebanks is well aware of the ethical conflict of what he does。 It turns out， while meat might still remain murder， not all murderers are monsters…and perhaps things are a bit more complicated when such murder is all you’ve known？ The book isn’t all cattle and killing I was bought this book as a gift and， as a vegetarian， assumed I would hate it because， well， farmers。 Sure enough， there is a lot of offhand animal exploitation discussed across these snapshots of farming life past and present， but Rebanks is well aware of the ethical conflict of what he does。 It turns out， while meat might still remain murder， not all murderers are monsters…and perhaps things are a bit more complicated when such murder is all you’ve known？ The book isn’t all cattle and killing though。 In fact very little is about that。 Most of this book is a love letter to nature and the natural world， with a melancholy about how farmers attempt to manipulate and do battle with nature and all too often lose sight of what is sustainable。 A damning critique of large industrial farming and lament at the demise of small scale sustainability， I was moved by the book’s tenderness and reverence for a world growing evermore damaged by our insatiable appetite for short-term profit and cheap food。 。。。more
Leucotea
，
James Rebanks tells the story of Farming through the eyes of three generations。 He talks about the rapid changes he’s seen within the farming industry， which extend to modern living， highlighting our disconnection with nature; driven by mass production。 During Rebanks’ childhood， his grandfather was the influence he needed to fall in love with farming， he was inspired by his slow， proud， and ever-present way of life。 After his grandfathers' death he became caught in the current of modernising， t James Rebanks tells the story of Farming through the eyes of three generations。 He talks about the rapid changes he’s seen within the farming industry， which extend to modern living， highlighting our disconnection with nature; driven by mass production。 During Rebanks’ childhood， his grandfather was the influence he needed to fall in love with farming， he was inspired by his slow， proud， and ever-present way of life。 After his grandfathers' death he became caught in the current of modernising， try to ‘keep up’ with neighboring farms， only realising these were the opposite values to those that draw him to farming when he witnessed the eco-system dramatically changing for the worse。Beautifully written， easy to read， and full of feelings。 。。。more
Samantha
，
More of what we need to hear right now。 A beautiful and urgent assessment of past practices and what we can learn from them going forward。 Humans need to be stewards of the land， not destroyers。 Have we given ourselves enough time to put it right … that is the question？？？
Anthony Risson
，
At times beautifully poetic， and others， like a necessary lecture， Rebanks captures the essence of a life in the country， providing for a family， a community， a world。 This follow up offering to 'The Shepherd's Life' was a joy to read as Rebanks depicts the beauty of a countryside reclaimed， held in stark contrast to the shape of a world held to ransom by those who always want more。 Food for thought， ideas to action。 At times beautifully poetic， and others， like a necessary lecture， Rebanks captures the essence of a life in the country， providing for a family， a community， a world。 This follow up offering to 'The Shepherd's Life' was a joy to read as Rebanks depicts the beauty of a countryside reclaimed， held in stark contrast to the shape of a world held to ransom by those who always want more。 Food for thought， ideas to action。 。。。more
Camille
，
A beautifully written case for reconnecting farming with natureIn English Pastoral: An Inheritance， James Rebanks recollects his family's history of coping with the changes that have happened in farming in the second half of the 20th century。 It is an eye opening account and reminds us that farming is not only an integral part of human civilization， but also one that is closest to nature。 He makes an excellent case for the fact that isolating farming from nature and severing the ties of the farm A beautifully written case for reconnecting farming with natureIn English Pastoral: An Inheritance， James Rebanks recollects his family's history of coping with the changes that have happened in farming in the second half of the 20th century。 It is an eye opening account and reminds us that farming is not only an integral part of human civilization， but also one that is closest to nature。 He makes an excellent case for the fact that isolating farming from nature and severing the ties of the farmer to the wild by way of machines and chemicals has been incredibly detrimental to both the wild and agriculture。 He does not believe in the idea of boosting agricultural yields artificially on a restricted amount of space in order to leave other space for wild nature。 Instead he argues for a middle ground where farming and the wild can co-exist and maybe even sustain each other。 This book made me think again about what we eat and how that is provided for us。 Many of us try to eat organic foods， but reading this I became much more aware of just how damaging certain ways of farming crops can be。 It made me realise how little I actually think about consuming products that are based on these crops: bread， pasta， beer， of course， but also meat， as a lot of animals are fed with grain。 The writing stunning， but also riveting and accessible， and the book conveys his emotions beautifully; his love for the farm and the responsibility he feels for running it well and also more and more for protecting the nature it is in; his anger at witnessing farming being reduced to yield numbers by economists and to problems being 'solved' by engineers; his horror at seeing what industrial agriculture has done to the American Mid-West， having created bleak and empty landscapes， devoid of anything wild or human， and rapidly declining soil quality。 This is a thoughtful and reflective work， as we are taken through decades of farmers being forced into making decisions that in the long run have harmed them。 In the end it seems that Rebanks is hopeful about the future， especially when he imagines ecologists and farmers working together to redevelop farming to work with nature， not against it。I received a free e-book of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more
Alex Watson
，
Beautiful， beautiful nature writing， and a simple， pure message around sustainable farming。
Mike Jennings
，
A great first section， all about how farming used to be in England。 It has a romantic quality which reminds me of Cider with Rosie in its depiction of a long lost way of life。 The middle section leaves you with a downbeat feeling as it chronicles modern intensive farming techniques which have （apparently） been shown to have a detrimental effect on the land， the wildlife， the produce and ultimately the farmers themselves。 The final section attempts to provide hope for the future， having identifie A great first section， all about how farming used to be in England。 It has a romantic quality which reminds me of Cider with Rosie in its depiction of a long lost way of life。 The middle section leaves you with a downbeat feeling as it chronicles modern intensive farming techniques which have （apparently） been shown to have a detrimental effect on the land， the wildlife， the produce and ultimately the farmers themselves。 The final section attempts to provide hope for the future， having identified that intensive farming is not the answer to everything。I suppose it's a sobering read really， and （for me） it dragged a little somewhere between the middle and last sections。 I loved the first section though。 。。。more
Joe Tristram
，
This is a lovely book on many levels。 It tells the story of one ordinary man， a farmer and his family， who really looks and thinks about what's happening on his farm， in his fields， and comes to the brave conclusion that he must change， that there is an important responsibility in being the custodian of a piece of land， as well as being a producer of food。 James Rebanks grew up with a huge admiration for his grandfather's respect for nature and traditional farming methods， whilst also understand This is a lovely book on many levels。 It tells the story of one ordinary man， a farmer and his family， who really looks and thinks about what's happening on his farm， in his fields， and comes to the brave conclusion that he must change， that there is an important responsibility in being the custodian of a piece of land， as well as being a producer of food。 James Rebanks grew up with a huge admiration for his grandfather's respect for nature and traditional farming methods， whilst also understanding his father's drive to grow bigger， faster and more modern。 His path has taken him so far to a Lakeland farm that， without 'wilding' he is nurturing to a very impressive level of sustainability， carbon sequestration and increase in species diversity。And he writes about it with great feeling， so that one can really see the places and hear the sheep bleat。 。。。more
Casi
，
Beautiful。 Powerful。 Hard to face the realities of the world we have created。 Rebanks has a gentle， steady style。
Peter Parslow
，
Beautifully written through the years from childhood- and his grandfather’s memories- through realisation and struggles of farms in the 80s， to reflection and a place of peace now。Perhaps the most important book I have read for a long time。 Our lives depend on soil， whether we’re farmers or not， omnivores or vegetarians。
Gert De Bie
，