The narrative captures the essence of daily life in a Stour valley village, celebrating its beauty and historical significance. Through the changing seasons and Christian festivals, the author intertwines nature's gifts with themes of community and spirituality. This heartfelt portrayal blends literature, poetry, and memory, resulting in a rich tapestry of stories that reflect the ordinary yet profound aspects of rural existence.
In this rich, rare book, which John Updike called "exquisite", forty-nine men and women, from a blacksmith and a bellringer to the local vet and a gravedigger, speak to us directly, in honest and evocative monologues, of their works and days in the rural country of Suffolk. Composed in the late 1960's Blythe's volume paints a vivd picture of a community in which the vast changes of the twentieth century are matched by deep continuities of history, tradition, and nature.
Sees Ronald Blythe observe the progress of one whole calendar year in the river valley where he has lived and worked among artists, writers, farmers and, increasingly, commuters.
At the Yeoman's House centres on Bottoengoms Farm, East Anglia. The celebrated authour of Akenfield explores the building inhabited by 20th century artist John Nash. It is part of the landscape loved by Constable. Inside Bottengoms there are telling handprints and footprints everywhere, and this is their tale. A tale told by a true countryman.
The author offers a poetic perspective on rural life through an illustrated collection of his weekly column from the "Church Times." Observing the rhythms and nuances of the countryside from his historic farmhouse in Constable country, he captures the essence of nature and community. This charming compilation reflects the beauty and simplicity of rural existence, inviting readers to appreciate the small wonders of everyday life.
This illustrated collection features reflections from the author's weekly column in the "Church Times," offering a poetic perspective on rural life observed from his historic farmhouse in Constable country. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful insights, the author captures the essence of the changing seasons and the daily rhythms of the countryside, inviting readers to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of rural existence.
Richly detailed observations highlight the beauty and gifts of each season, showcasing the simple pleasures that transform everyday life into a miracle. The author, recognized as Britain's greatest living rural writer, weaves themes of friendship and wonder throughout this collection, inviting readers to appreciate the world around them.
Britain's best loved rural writer chronicles the progress of the seasons in the Stour valley village where he has lived and worked among artists, writers, farmers and commuters. For all the changes in the contemporary countryside, timeless qualities remain and both are captured here with a poet's understanding and imagination.
Far from the Madding Crowd is perhaps the most pastoral of Hardy's Wessex novels. It tells the story of the young farmer Gabriel Oak and his love for and pursuit of the elusive Bathsheba Everdene, whose wayward nature leads her to both tragedy and true love. It tells of the dashing Sergeant Troy whose rakish philosophy of life was '...the past was yesterday; never, the day after'. And lastly, of the introverted and reclusive gentleman farmer, Mr Boldwood, whose love fills him with '...a fearful sense of exposure', when he first sets eyes on Bathsheba.
Features a collection of sixty Word From Wormingford columns from the back page of the Church Times, published in the autumn of 2006. This work presents mini essays that reflect the natural landscape, the changing seasons, village life, art, poetry, the stories that ancient churches tell.