Nonfiction

English Pastoral: An Inheritance

English Pastoral: An Inheritance

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  • Create Date：2021-09-07 07:51:13
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
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  • Author：James Rebanks
  • ISBN：0141982578
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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

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Reviews

Rhinnan ，

4。5 stars。

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。

Andrea ，

James Rebanks grew up on a home owned farm in England。 His grandfather taught him the joy of hard work。 His grandfather did not believe in pesticides and manufactured fertilizers。 He believed in following the old methods of farming。 He was an organic farmer before organic farming was even a thing。 Rebanks grows nostalgic while revealing his childhood and growing up on his farm。 Learning the methods of crop rotation and animal husbandry from methods used for hundreds if not thousands of years。 Ev James Rebanks grew up on a home owned farm in England。 His grandfather taught him the joy of hard work。 His grandfather did not believe in pesticides and manufactured fertilizers。 He believed in following the old methods of farming。 He was an organic farmer before organic farming was even a thing。 Rebanks grows nostalgic while revealing his childhood and growing up on his farm。 Learning the methods of crop rotation and animal husbandry from methods used for hundreds if not thousands of years。 Even though he is very nostalgic for the old farmer ways， he clearly explains things that worked as well as didn’t work。 He goes on to explain how modern farming works and ways that it doesn’t。 Finally rounding out the book with the ways he thinks they can be melted together to create a system of farming more in harmony with nature。 I hated hearing about the difference between the way animals were treated in the past vs the way they are treated now。 It was very sad to hear how the “old” ideas， people， and methods were completely disregarded and devalued。 It is disturbing to hear how animals are kept India’s often better seeing the sun。 They are given antibiotics to keep them from getting sick。 I don’t know about you but if I am on antibiotics for too long my stomach constantly hurts。 How must these animals feel？It is very easy to see how small family farms have gone out of business。 Huge farming businesses and current farming practices have displaced the small local farmers。 The entire farm production process from bankers， seeds， pesticides， feed， and fertilizer get more money from the food sold than the farmer who grows the crop or raises the animal does。 It is because of the drive to reduce the cost of food。 It leaves very little money for the actual farmer。It is unfortunate that the drive to reduce the cost of food has caused so many problems。 Animals are mistreated。 The land where most crops are grown are being over produced and destroyed。 In some places the pesticides and fertilizers cause serious damage to the land， animals， and waterways around the farms。 “We are all encouraged to apathetic and disinterest。 Nearly all of the food scandals and farming crisis that have eroded our trust in farming have come about as a result of the drive to reduce costs through dubious practices。 As farmers and others in the food chain have sought to cut corners behind the scenes doing things their fathers and grandfathers would never have dreamed of in order to make food cheaper than it really should be。 This was business school thinking applied to the land with issues ethics and nature shunted off to the margins of consiousness。 There was no room for sentiment， culture or tradition。 No understanding of natural constraints or costs。 The modern farming mindset didn’t recognize these external things as relevant。 This was farming reduced to a financial and engineering challenge rather than being understood as a biological activity……。We convinced ourselves that farming was just another business subject to the same rules as any other but that is coming to seem like the most foolish idea ever。 We created a society obsessed with food choices and ethics while disconnecting most people from the practical agricultural and ecological knowledge to make those choices。Now people worry about what they should eat but have largely lost sight of how their local landscape should be farmed and what food stuffs they can produce sustainably。 Most people are are now largely illiterate when it comes to agriculture and ecology。 This is a cultural disaster because the global challenge of how we live sustainably on this planet is really a local challenge。 How can we farm in ways that will endure and do the least harm？ And what does that local farming produce for us to eat？This is not an argument for entirely eating local foodstuffs I like bananas as much as the next person but a reminder that it is good sense that our food is produce around us and under our gaze。”The goal for modern day farming should be a balanced between old farming practices and new ones。 As a consumer during the Covid-19 pandemic I have become very aware of how fragile our food distribution and production processes are。 It would not take very much to make feeding your family impossible if manufacturing or distributing of food became disrupted。 It is time for us to return to a more wholistic approach to farming where a good deal of our food is grown and produced locally while more unique food is imported from other areas。As Rebanks explains， it will be necessary to balance productivity focused farming and using old farming practices。 We need agriculture diversity。 We have to many people on the planet to completely throw away the new practices we have discovered。 Instead we need to figure out how to meld the practices。As consumers were need to recognize that if we want to have sustainable farming practices and animals that are raised more ethically we will have to begin to pay more for our food。He closes his discussion with some brilliant opened ended ways that farmers and governments can work towards a more healthy nature conscience way of farming。 His plan comes from a man with a family farm who is down in the trenches working daily as a farmer。 Not as a politician， government official， farming conglomerate， or conservationist。 Of all the people qualified to create a plan for progress forward he would be a great starting point as he is currently living this life。 His ideas involve a lot of cooperation and a realization of the current practices and old practices。 He wants policies that will help to meld the two and not expecting all farms to look alike。 It is a surprisingly elegant and useful idea。 As an American， I would hope that America begins to recognize these very concepts and take steps now to create a different system。 Rating and TriggersPG- It did have some animal deaths and animal births。 Some Language mostly centered in the end of the book when it seems the author has lost his patience with the works lack of understanding and their disregard for the health of the land。 。。。more

Leila ，

The author， son and grandson of farmers， witnessed dramatic changes in agricultural practices in the Lake District area。 His story shows us how he learned to farm， how he and his family and friends struggled through the changes wrought by globalization and the pressure for cheap food， and how he gradually adopted sustainable practices （despite the fact that they are uneconomical）。 I found the writing a bit uneven， especially toward the end of the book， but it is mostly lyrical， impassioned， and The author， son and grandson of farmers， witnessed dramatic changes in agricultural practices in the Lake District area。 His story shows us how he learned to farm， how he and his family and friends struggled through the changes wrought by globalization and the pressure for cheap food， and how he gradually adopted sustainable practices （despite the fact that they are uneconomical）。 I found the writing a bit uneven， especially toward the end of the book， but it is mostly lyrical， impassioned， and very interesting。 One of the most enjoyable and thought-provoking books I read this summer。 。。。more

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。

Ann ，

Powerful description of the many challenges faced by farmers today， as well as a sweet memoir of the farming experiences of his youth。 Great book！

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

Charles Bellavia ，

This is a Goodreads giveaway book。James Bebanks' "Pastoral Song" was a pleasant non-fiction read。 He deals with what makes good soil and how farmers can preserve bio-diverse farms。 As a composter and maker of my own soil， his book was relevant to my hobby although I do not intend to raise cattle or sheep on my property。The book gives an awareness of farming and its changes through three generations。 This is a Goodreads giveaway book。James Bebanks' "Pastoral Song" was a pleasant non-fiction read。 He deals with what makes good soil and how farmers can preserve bio-diverse farms。 As a composter and maker of my own soil， his book was relevant to my hobby although I do not intend to raise cattle or sheep on my property。The book gives an awareness of farming and its changes through three generations。 。。。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。

Dutchbaby ，

Wonderful combination of a memoir about growing up on and tending a Lake District farm and a commentary on farming practices and how they've changed over time。 Wonderful combination of a memoir about growing up on and tending a Lake District farm and a commentary on farming practices and how they've changed over time。 。。。more

Donna ，

This is Nonfiction/Environment/Nature。 As this one started， I wasn't feeling it。 I needed to read it for a reading challenge so I plowed ahead。 I eventually fell into its rhythm and I was so glad I stayed with it。 This wasn't quite 5 stars， but I rounded up for the overall message。 Everyone should read this， whether you grow food or eat food。。。。this is for you。 This is a timely message。Granted this book describes the author's farm in England， but I'm mostly referring to the US in my comments。 Wi This is Nonfiction/Environment/Nature。 As this one started， I wasn't feeling it。 I needed to read it for a reading challenge so I plowed ahead。 I eventually fell into its rhythm and I was so glad I stayed with it。 This wasn't quite 5 stars， but I rounded up for the overall message。 Everyone should read this， whether you grow food or eat food。。。。this is for you。 This is a timely message。Granted this book describes the author's farm in England， but I'm mostly referring to the US in my comments。 With the urbanization of America， farming wasn't in vogue any more。 The kids left family farms， flocked to city life and got jobs。 In hindsight I can see how family farm life was ripe for destruction by the big machine farms。 However， in the last couple of decades， so much has been learned about what works & what doesn't， how to feed the masses and what is best for the environment。 But it is as if that doesn't matter because some of these truths cut into the bottom line。。。。。。PROFIT！！ Anyway， I won't construct a soap box here because the author has done that quite eloquently with this book。The one thing I didn't care for （and it is just me）， but often in nonfiction when wanting to attach a negative emotion to something， sad and depressing images are conjured up。。。。like death， rotten things， dying， muck， desolation， etc。 And when wanting everyone to feel warm fuzzies about something， images of sleeping children， romping through the fields， family time， grandma out in the field working because that is where she feels close to her husband who has passed away are in practically every sentence。 I understand it， but at the same time I hate it。 Just give me the facts please and I'll choose my own high horse， thank you。 。。。more

Sally ，

THIS book is wonderful！！！ Unbelievable but I know he wrote from life experience and profound knowledge and learning。 Anyone interested in farming could profit from reading this。 Brought back fond memories of our farming neighbors The Waddle’s and The Nesbitt’s。 Bob Kaylor thank you for recommending it。

Marilee Steffen ，

Rebanks family farm in England was farmed the old way。 Started by his grandfather and passed down to his son and then grandson， the farm and land suffered from forgetting the old ways and adopting modern farming techniques in order to increase production and survive today's call to produce as much as possible。 When Rebanks inherited the farm， he began the slow process of returning to the old methods and saw the land begin to recover。 I was disappointed in this book。 Rebanks spent too much time l Rebanks family farm in England was farmed the old way。 Started by his grandfather and passed down to his son and then grandson， the farm and land suffered from forgetting the old ways and adopting modern farming techniques in order to increase production and survive today's call to produce as much as possible。 When Rebanks inherited the farm， he began the slow process of returning to the old methods and saw the land begin to recover。 I was disappointed in this book。 Rebanks spent too much time lecturing on the evils of modern day agriculture。 I wanted a story of his efforts and how he went about restoring his land and farm。 。。。more

Colleen Earle ，

Anyone who’s interested in farming， where their food comes from， or passionate about environmentalism。 Rebanks does a fantastic job at looking at how farming has changed over his lifetime， for better or for worse， and what it means for farmers and consumers。He spends a lot of time look at the financial reasons behind these changes and what’s continuing to drive practices like monoculture crops， and excessive use of chemicals in farming。 In the third section of the Book， he outlines what he and h Anyone who’s interested in farming， where their food comes from， or passionate about environmentalism。 Rebanks does a fantastic job at looking at how farming has changed over his lifetime， for better or for worse， and what it means for farmers and consumers。He spends a lot of time look at the financial reasons behind these changes and what’s continuing to drive practices like monoculture crops， and excessive use of chemicals in farming。 In the third section of the Book， he outlines what he and his family have been doing to make farming more sustainable; going back to the old ways of crop rotation， raising a variety of animals， planting more trees and hedgerows， and returning pasture to a more natural way。 I loved Rebanks first book， but this one took everything that I loved about it and turned it up。 I highly recommend this book。 。。。more

Peg Lotvin ，

James Rebanks learned farming as a child from his grandfather。 Those lessons remained after he inherited part of the farm from his father。 James' father was caught on the turnover between the old ways of his father and the new ways of agriculture。 A trip to the American Midwest so horrified James that he was ready to return to some of the grandfather's old farming ways。 By this time there were experts ready to help him bring back the small pasture， small cropland of earlier days。 Lyrical writing James Rebanks learned farming as a child from his grandfather。 Those lessons remained after he inherited part of the farm from his father。 James' father was caught on the turnover between the old ways of his father and the new ways of agriculture。 A trip to the American Midwest so horrified James that he was ready to return to some of the grandfather's old farming ways。 By this time there were experts ready to help him bring back the small pasture， small cropland of earlier days。 Lyrical writing， but remember Rebanks writes books to help pay for a type of farming， though beautiful， makes it hard to make a living。 。。。more

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

Lindsay Gafford ，

I give this book a solid 4。5 stars。 I sincerely hope the author follows it up several years down the line with the progress of his farm and the farms around his and the impact of their wilding/returning to caring for the land， rather than exploiting it。

James F。 ，

Very Thought ProvokingI have read his other books and naturally wanted to read this one。 It took a turn that I was not expecting and really challenged my thinking。 I grew up on a farm and spent my career with an organization that provided the latest information to farmers in the US。 James is a wonderful writer who is challenging the mainstream。 Thank you for a great book！

Will G ，

A very British love of the land。

Terri ducay ，

A beautifully written story about a man and his family's farm: he confronts today's dilemma of the need to farm to feed the growing populations at the expense of raping the land and killing its wildlife。 The book begins with the writer's grandfather and father， how they toiled and lived on the land—knowing the land and the animals to the son's life -learning to understand the economic realities of industrial farming at the cost of destruction。 Is there a balance between the old ways of working t A beautifully written story about a man and his family's farm: he confronts today's dilemma of the need to farm to feed the growing populations at the expense of raping the land and killing its wildlife。 The book begins with the writer's grandfather and father， how they toiled and lived on the land—knowing the land and the animals to the son's life -learning to understand the economic realities of industrial farming at the cost of destruction。 Is there a balance between the old ways of working the land in a natural manner with the new high-tech ways？The author's words are simple but loving。 He speaks of the quiet and magical world of nature that is disappearing before our eyes。 He hopes we can stop the destruction before it's too late。 I hope he is right。 。。。more

Letha ，

This as a compelling read。 I first heard James Rebanks in an interview on BBC World News back in 2019。 He was very convincing in the issues he raised that I promptly read his first book and joined his hoards of followers on Twitter and has since listened to his every interview and podcast。 Even when covering areas and materials that he has covered previously， he always has some additional insight to add to the discussionThis second book of his came out in UK and elsewhere as English Pastoral in This as a compelling read。 I first heard James Rebanks in an interview on BBC World News back in 2019。 He was very convincing in the issues he raised that I promptly read his first book and joined his hoards of followers on Twitter and has since listened to his every interview and podcast。 Even when covering areas and materials that he has covered previously， he always has some additional insight to add to the discussionThis second book of his came out in UK and elsewhere as English Pastoral in 2020， and in the US as Pastoral song this month。 He raises issues and explains how we got here in very everyday terms that makes you realize he is talking about our reality。 It is just alarming enough to invoke thought and a healthy dose of 'guilt' for our contributions to what is now a global dependance on unsustainable farming to produce our food。 Hopefully it will leave all of us wanting to do something differently in our everyday lives。 Should be made a mandatory reading somewhere in high school。 。。。more

Lorrie ，

Very very well written， compassionate of people and land。 Beautiful language。 Well researched。 So descriptive。 Keep in mind giving us a run。One terrific read。 That is an author！

David Freeman ，

Just like I want to hand over our ‘farm’ to our son。

Laura ，

I loved this。 Such a good and thoughtful （although not exhaustive） lesson in farming， ecology， and environmental science。 I love how gently he shares his experiences and how much truth there is in it。 This was a very thought provoking book for me and THIS is how I like to be "preached" to: by experience and kindness and simple logic。 This quote towards the end of the book was my favorite and sums it up nicely: "I am tired of the absolutes and extremes and the angriness of this age。 We need more I loved this。 Such a good and thoughtful （although not exhaustive） lesson in farming， ecology， and environmental science。 I love how gently he shares his experiences and how much truth there is in it。 This was a very thought provoking book for me and THIS is how I like to be "preached" to: by experience and kindness and simple logic。 This quote towards the end of the book was my favorite and sums it up nicely: "I am tired of the absolutes and extremes and the angriness of this age。 We need more kindness， compromise， and balance"。 Indeed。 I wish this book was required reading for High schoolers in an environmental science class。 I feel like these are the things we should really consider and be made aware of。 。。。more

Lillian ，

James Rebanks' romantic memoir of running a family owned farm in the Lake District in Northern England is the story of farming as it once was （Nostalgia）， what it has become （Progress）， and what it could be （Utopia）。 His lovely， poetic prose tells a deeply personal story of his ties to the natural world across generations beginning with his grandfather and now extending to his children。 A legacy he hopes will play out and continue。" I have worked here my whole life， but I am only now beginning t James Rebanks' romantic memoir of running a family owned farm in the Lake District in Northern England is the story of farming as it once was （Nostalgia）， what it has become （Progress）， and what it could be （Utopia）。 His lovely， poetic prose tells a deeply personal story of his ties to the natural world across generations beginning with his grandfather and now extending to his children。 A legacy he hopes will play out and continue。" 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 become。 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 lifelong story of return。" （p。 216） 。。。more

Randy Rasa ，

I was a farm boy， from generations of farmers， and though didn't grow up to be a farmer， that upbringing shaped me in ways I'm still discovering。 And now I'm a steward of the land in my own way， as an avocation， working to improve the habitat and diversity of the lands I manage。 So much of this book really resonated with me， and reflects how I think about how humans have interacted with the landscape in recent generations。 A brilliant piece of writing here。"This is about farmers like us in our I was a farm boy， from generations of farmers， and though didn't grow up to be a farmer， that upbringing shaped me in ways I'm still discovering。 And now I'm a steward of the land in my own way， as an avocation， working to improve the habitat and diversity of the lands I manage。 So much of this book really resonated with me， and reflects how I think about how humans have interacted with the landscape in recent generations。 A brilliant piece of writing here。"This is about farmers like us in our tens of thousands across the country and around the world， and why we did the things we did， and what some of us are now trying to do to make it right。 The last 40 years on the land were revolutionary and disrupted all that had gone before for thousands of years， a radical and ill-thought-through experiment that was conducted in our fields。 I lived through those years， I was a witness。 The more we learn about this change， the more unease and anger we feel about what farming has become our society was created by this farming， but yet we increasingly distrusted。" 。。。more

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

Shawna ，

This book gave me wonderful information about farming and the challenges it faces as time goes on。 James Rebanks story of family and farming is a book anyone could read and benefit from。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=English Pastoral: An Inheritance

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=English Pastoral: An Inheritance&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,English Pastoral: An Inheritance&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0