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Of Sheep and Men…

Author:  James Rebanks

Shepherd's Life cover (198x300)Back in college, one of my housemates was a shepherd. This outwardly ordinary student would head back home most weekends to tend to his flock of Suffolk sheep – shearing, dipping, lambing or whatever.  His fascination with sheep always made stand out a bit among all the “normal” college kids, but he always had a leg of lamb ready to pop in the oven at a moment’s notice.  Apparently my friend wasn’t alone in feeling that he didn’t quite fit in, as I learned when I read The Shepherd’s Life, a memoir by James Rebanks.  Reveling in all things ovine, the author tells of his devotion to the rural life in the picturesque Lake District of northern England.  It’s really quite a story.

Rebanks grew up in a family of shepherds, learning the trade at his grandfather’s side from the time he could toddle. When he was old enough to go to school, he spent most of his time waiting to get back to work on the farm or fighting with the village kids who looked down on the rural way of life.  He would also bridle at his teachers’ frequent assumptions that the best future for their students was behind an office desk or in the halls of higher learning.  Dropping out of school early, Rebanks wanted nothing more than to work with his sheep and as he grew older he began to recognize the quiet dignity in this ancient way of life.

A view of the town of Keswick in the Lake District.

A view of the town of Keswick in the Lake District.

Writing with a nice balance of humility and pride, the author successfully conveys why sheep are such a passion for him, structuring his narrative around a year on the farm. From the determination of a new born lamb, to the thrill of working with a talented border collie, Rebanks deftly captures much of the day to day joy in his work.  He also reveals the often unrecognized cognitive demands and financial gambles involved in successfully breeding award winning Herdwick and Swaledale sheep.  At the same time, he shares the understated beauty of the landscape that has made the Lake District a new hotbed of tourism.  Unfortunately, the growth of this modern industry frequently results in conflicts with the shepherds who played such a key role in creating the scenic beauty that draws the urban crowds.

A hardy Herdwick ewe.

A hardy Herdwick ewe.

Well aware of the irony, given his initial difficulties in the scholastic world, Rebanks also describes how he ended up in the hallowed halls of Oxford University, where he refined his relationship with the written word. His experience on the farm serves him well now as an expert advisor on sustainable tourism at UNESCO.  Of course, even though he frequently travels the world in this more modern employ, the passion for his sheep remains.

A candid and poignant memoir, The Shephard’s Life is a well written argument for the benefits of sustaining rural traditions in the modern world.  Even this city boy found the author’s personal perspective both engaging and emotionally powerful.  The book is sure to please any reader interested in a modern look at an ancient way of life.

— D. Driftless

Keswick photo by David Illif (CC-BY-SA 3.0)/Herdwick photo by hollidaypics (CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Reviews of other books about animal husbandry:  Coop /  Buffalo for the Broken Heart

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