The Shepherd’s Life by James Rebanks

Book review: The Shepherd’s Life by James Rebanks I have been following the author of this book on Twitter for some time. He is a shepherd in the Lake District in England, and the photos he posts of sheep walking in meadows and across streams are gorgeous idealic images. This book is his chronicle of a year in the life of his farm. So you get all four seasons and a description of what happens at different times of years. Also described is the history of the area and shepherding. A charming narrative of a life that I am sure is not easy and not as romantic as you come away with. Between this, H is for Hawk and The Outrun you would get an impression that life in the UK is all country walks and rural fairs. These are wonderful fantasies and maybe says something about who has the time and inclination to write books, but all the urban problems are not covered, no poverty, crime and hardship. Well some of that in The Outrun, but that is basically what she is leaving behind.