A Place In My Country: In Search of a Rural Dream

by Ian Walthew

Chasing memories of the losses of his brother and father, the author, a young newspaper director, and his Australian wife visit the Cotswolds. On a whim they buy a cottage and Ian resigns. They slowly get to know Norman, their inscrutable and apparently terrifying neighbor; Geoff, the ebullient landlord of their eclectic local bar—last bastion against the encroaching gastropub; and Tom, an ex-gamekeeper, who lets Ian see something of a hidden rural culture. The delightful aspects of village life and an ever-changing landscape are evocatively captured; but it is from working with Norman on his small chaotic farm that they learn about the loss of the countryside to industrial farming and of no-longer affordable housing to the dreaded "white settlers." Shadows of the past and a seemingly segregated social world around them begin to cast doubts on whether this is the place for them. This is a gentle lesson in taking time to confront our losses, memories, and prejudices to discover a revitalized life in the country.

Genres: Travel, Memoir, British Literature, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 12, 2007

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like James Rebanks' The Shepherd's Life, Ian Walthew's memoir about living in the Cotswolds penetrates the heart of a place that most of us only know about as tourists. While Rebanks offers insights into the Lake District as a shepherd whose family has a history of living and working on the land, Walthew comes to the Cotswolds as an outsider but quickly assimilates with the help of a few locals. These include Norman, his crotchety next door neighbor and one of the few remaining small-scale mixed use farmers in the area, who eventually warms up enough to accept Walthew's assistance with the never-ending chores of the farm. The insight provided by this and other friendships differentiate Walthew's memoir from the run-of-the-mill incomer story. A moving, lovely book; one to linger over.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has a gentle, slow moving style which is ok. I was just hoping for a bit more disclosure about his family early on and was both perturbed and saddened (for the author) to progressively read of family tragedies. I'm all for suspense but would have appreciated a bit more at the beginning.

[Paul Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow in parts. But overall a very moving account of the lives of 'country' life and the difficulties facing those communities.

I didn't think I'd enjoy this or learn as much as I did. The relationship between the author and the farmer next door is particularly poignant.

[bookinglibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and poignant view of rural life and farming in England today, particularly in the popular Cotswolds.

[Texas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite boring, many pages about nothing at all.

[Paul Bagshawe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very proud to have republished this book as an ebook!

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Townie moves to the country in search of a better quality of life and writes a memoir. Country life is not quite as idyllic for him as he had anticipated, and his account is quite funny in places.