Pastoral Song

By: James Rebanks

Narrated by: Peter Noble

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The acclaimed chronicle of the regeneration of one family's traditional English farm

National Best Seller

Winner of the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing * Named "Nature Book of the Year" by the Sunday Times * New York Times Editors' Choice * Shortlisted for the Orwell Prize and the Royal Society of Literature's Ondaatje Prize * A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Sunday Times, Financial Times, New Statesman, Independent, Telegraph, Observer, and Daily Mail

"Superbly written and deeply insightful, the book captivates the reader until the journey’s end.” (Wall Street Journal)

The New York Times best-selling author of The Shepherd’s Life profiles his family’s farm across three generations, revealing through this intimate lens the profound global transformation of agriculture and of the human relationship to the land.

As a boy, James Rebanks's grandfather taught him to work the land the old way. Their family farm in England's 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 recognizable. 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.

Hailed as "a brilliant, beautiful book" by the Sunday Times (London), Pastoral Song (published in the United Kingdom under the title 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.

[Published in the United Kingdom as English Pastoral.]

©2021 James Rebanks (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

Did he want me to weep after reading?

An amazing full picture of a farmer’s life and legacy that left me weeping during the final chapter.

Lovely

Reminded me so much in so many ways of my own farming experience in the states. The author brought generations of differing farm theory full circle without placing full blame on any one theory. We have been politely challenged to take responsibility.

America PLEASE listen

This book was the best combination of a story with history and life lessons I've had the pleasure of listening to out of my 900 plus books in my library. Mr Rebanks is truly gifted. My hope is that Americans and all the rest of the world understand big business farming is our doom and things need to change. the FDA is fine putting sawdust and plastic in what we consume and absolutely zero compassion for the animals they feed us. Not to mention the earth they are destroying by the minute. If your great great grandparent didn't eat it we shouldn't either. Thank you to all the small farmers holding on to their values!

Lovely!

Mr Rebanks has beautiful captured the trials of modern day farming: both the horror and destruction wrought by factory farming, and the struggles and ethics faced by family farmers (like generations of my family). My folks are still farming largely in "the old way" and I pray the coming generations will be able to do so as well. Honor the Earth! I agree with some of those who criticized the narration, but found that when I speeded it up to 1.25, it was very nice.

Wonderful story & well told

As a fifth generation Illinois farmer, I really appreciate and understand his love of the land & nature. What he & his family have created is great to see and hear about.
Did not appreciate “Sterile ruined landscapes like those of the American Midwest…” not all Midwestern farms are factory farms, so with kindness, get over yourself.

Great read!

I think I have read all of James Rebank’s books and he never disappoints. Couldn’t agree more with his take on environmentalism vs. need for production. He is realistic and practical but also pragmatic and determined. Can’t wait for his next book!

The interconnectedness of nature

It was inspiring, thought provoking and beautifully written. It is also a warning to protect the land and the people that feed us.

A must read

I believe appreciation is what brings us joy. This book is a must read if you believe the same. It’s simply makes you appreciate where your food comes from and the choices and hardships of a farmer’s life. But also the beauty. It’s about one farmer who found the answer.

In the Tradition of John Seymour

As a retired sustainable enterprise professional, my dream has been to retire early to small scale market farm steading. This I have done, for the last 5 years. The difficulty in having one foot in the market economy, trying to make a profit, and the other, in seeking a sustainable lifestyle, cannot be overstated. Mr Rebanks has done a wonderful job bringing us up to date with where John Seymour left off in the 1970s and describing his journey towards a pastoral farming life. It is a good narrative, well performed, and I came away with some new ideas.

I am forever grateful

I grew up in a farming community. All my uncles were either farmers or ranchers. I remember them all missing family gatherings or having to leave early to tend to an irritation or animal emergency. I did not understand why they “chose” that kind of life. I wish I could go back and have the awakening this book gave me. Thank you. They are all now forever my heroes.