Shane's Reviews > English Pastoral: An Inheritance

James Rebanks is a historian and farmer. English Pastoral is a memoir that presents a view of English farming beginning during his grandfather's farming days and ending in 2020 at the book's publication.

The book is divided into three parts, and these are subdivided into short sections that hold anecdotal tales or brief arguments about the benefits or problems with different farming practices. Rebanks presents a nuanced view, influenced by his reading of Rachel Carson and his life on his family's farm. The overall narrative is about striking a balance between industrialisation in farming and keeping traditions alive, presented with some suggestions for future farming in the last chapter.

The short sections can be enjoyable, but the writing is not very strong and the sections often jump from one topic to another or become repetitive, particularly in the first section. The book could easily have been edited down to about two thirds of its length. Also, as a character who is careful to maintain neutrality, Rebanks never acknowledges the extraordinary advantage he has with owning so much land (c. 185 acres) and just barely manages to acknowledge that women have a role in his tale. It's a difficult book - lively at times but overall a little disappointing.