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Notes from the Henhouse: On Marrying a Poet, Raising Children and Chickens, and Writing
A sharp and witty collection of autobiographical essays by the late Elspeth Barker—acclaimed journalist and author of the beloved modern classic O Caledonia .
Following the publication of her acclaimed, darkly funny novel O Caledonia, Elspeth Barker’s sharp and witty essays appeared regularly in the national press. Notes from the Hen House, a selection of the most personal of these pieces, welcomes readers into the celebrated writer’s life.
Tracing Barker’s upbringing from her Scottish roots, these essays beautifully capture her time with the poet George Barker and her profound sense of loss following his death. She writes about George’s former lover Elizabeth Smart and other figures from 1950s bohemia and 1960s counterculture. Pieces like “Thoughts in a Garden,” equal parts hilarious and moving, read like dispatches from the front lines of country living, depicting the vagaries of raising a large family and assorted pets in a damp and drafty farmhouse.
Vivid, charming, and wholly original, Notes from the Hen House is a wonderful glimpse into the life of an extraordinary writer.
Following the publication of her acclaimed, darkly funny novel O Caledonia, Elspeth Barker’s sharp and witty essays appeared regularly in the national press. Notes from the Hen House, a selection of the most personal of these pieces, welcomes readers into the celebrated writer’s life.
Tracing Barker’s upbringing from her Scottish roots, these essays beautifully capture her time with the poet George Barker and her profound sense of loss following his death. She writes about George’s former lover Elizabeth Smart and other figures from 1950s bohemia and 1960s counterculture. Pieces like “Thoughts in a Garden,” equal parts hilarious and moving, read like dispatches from the front lines of country living, depicting the vagaries of raising a large family and assorted pets in a damp and drafty farmhouse.
Vivid, charming, and wholly original, Notes from the Hen House is a wonderful glimpse into the life of an extraordinary writer.
240 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2024
32 people are currently reading
2573 people want to read
About the author
Elspeth Barker
5 books101 followersElspeth Barker was a novelist and journalist. She was educated in Scotland and at Oxford.
Barker's novel O Caledonia won four awards and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize. She has reviewed extensively and written features for the Independent on Sunday, Guardian, Sunday Times, Observer, LRB, TLS, Harpers & Queen, Scotland on Sunday, Country Living, Vogue, etc. She edited the anthology Loss for Dent/Orion in 1997.
Her first husband was the poet George Barker by whom she had five children, including the novelist Raffaella Barker. In 2007 she married the writer Bill Troop.
Barker's novel O Caledonia won four awards and was shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize. She has reviewed extensively and written features for the Independent on Sunday, Guardian, Sunday Times, Observer, LRB, TLS, Harpers & Queen, Scotland on Sunday, Country Living, Vogue, etc. She edited the anthology Loss for Dent/Orion in 1997.
Her first husband was the poet George Barker by whom she had five children, including the novelist Raffaella Barker. In 2007 she married the writer Bill Troop.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 18, 2024
3.5 stars
Major thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review:
"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴. “𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.”
Barker is the kind of woman who tells you things. Will spill gossip about Sally the next door over, but will make it clever, and then tell you to look out the window to her garden, claim what’s in bloom, and then sips at her tea that has been sitting out all morning. She’ll tell you about the kids, about all the work she’ll get to, but there’s a sense of cool nerves in her speech that you think that she’s done all the work already, she just enjoys being in the present tense, will throw back her head in laughter about the past, but when she thinks about her husband, awashed in history, you notice the dip in the light and the afternoon returns to its morning blue and you wonder if time has stopped, if it’s moving backwards with Barker’s stories, and if she’s right about Sally. If the kids are alright. If Barker is alright. And so you drink the cold tea too because there’s nothing left to say or do. What’s left is Barker by the window, looking out, weaving scenes into words, scribbles on napkins, and she says something that sounds pretty, that makes sense, but overall pretty because you’ve forgotten how beautiful the world can get after so much chatter and changes to the light.
Beautiful musings that are less essays and more like curated journal entries into a woman so full of life, so full of observations on marriage, children, grief, and womanhood, all interwoven in nature.
Major thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review:
"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴. “𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.”
Barker is the kind of woman who tells you things. Will spill gossip about Sally the next door over, but will make it clever, and then tell you to look out the window to her garden, claim what’s in bloom, and then sips at her tea that has been sitting out all morning. She’ll tell you about the kids, about all the work she’ll get to, but there’s a sense of cool nerves in her speech that you think that she’s done all the work already, she just enjoys being in the present tense, will throw back her head in laughter about the past, but when she thinks about her husband, awashed in history, you notice the dip in the light and the afternoon returns to its morning blue and you wonder if time has stopped, if it’s moving backwards with Barker’s stories, and if she’s right about Sally. If the kids are alright. If Barker is alright. And so you drink the cold tea too because there’s nothing left to say or do. What’s left is Barker by the window, looking out, weaving scenes into words, scribbles on napkins, and she says something that sounds pretty, that makes sense, but overall pretty because you’ve forgotten how beautiful the world can get after so much chatter and changes to the light.
Beautiful musings that are less essays and more like curated journal entries into a woman so full of life, so full of observations on marriage, children, grief, and womanhood, all interwoven in nature.
January 8, 2025
It’s tragic this lady didn’t write more during her lifetime.
So many passages I would reach the end of and go “GAH, I wish I’d put it that way.” I think the mark of a great writer is someone who makes you want to do it, and their perceived effortlessness cruelly makes you think you can.
Comedy:
“Conversely, one heaven-sent summer morning, in the children's pond, the first tadpole had become an exquisite jewel of a frog, scarcely larger than a drop of water. But over the surface of the little pond came floating, Mekon-like, a spider with a bubble-shaped air chamber and it stung the frog, who drifted lifeless and flattened in its eddy. Wild tears of grief and outrage; so, thirty-nine weeks pregnant and beyond belief rotund, I lay on the grass and stroked the tiny corpse with a fingertip. Astonishingly, it began to pulsate, feebly and then more strongly, until we were able to place it, gleaming and live again, on its rock in the water.
A beldame hen strolled by and whipped it down her throat.”
Tragedy:
“I find death absolutely unacceptable and I cannot come to terms with it. I can no more conceive of utter extinction, of never, than I can conceive of infinity.
I cannot believe that all that passion, wit, eloquence and rage can be deleted by something so vulgar as the heart stopping.”
What more could you want? This woman made me nostalgic for a childhood I didn’t even have, and invested me in a life and family that’s forever preserved in masterful and tender prose.
So many passages I would reach the end of and go “GAH, I wish I’d put it that way.” I think the mark of a great writer is someone who makes you want to do it, and their perceived effortlessness cruelly makes you think you can.
Comedy:
“Conversely, one heaven-sent summer morning, in the children's pond, the first tadpole had become an exquisite jewel of a frog, scarcely larger than a drop of water. But over the surface of the little pond came floating, Mekon-like, a spider with a bubble-shaped air chamber and it stung the frog, who drifted lifeless and flattened in its eddy. Wild tears of grief and outrage; so, thirty-nine weeks pregnant and beyond belief rotund, I lay on the grass and stroked the tiny corpse with a fingertip. Astonishingly, it began to pulsate, feebly and then more strongly, until we were able to place it, gleaming and live again, on its rock in the water.
A beldame hen strolled by and whipped it down her throat.”
Tragedy:
“I find death absolutely unacceptable and I cannot come to terms with it. I can no more conceive of utter extinction, of never, than I can conceive of infinity.
I cannot believe that all that passion, wit, eloquence and rage can be deleted by something so vulgar as the heart stopping.”
What more could you want? This woman made me nostalgic for a childhood I didn’t even have, and invested me in a life and family that’s forever preserved in masterful and tender prose.
March 22, 2024
thank you to netgalley and scribner for the early copy! this had beautiful writing with some interesting stylistic choices, but not a lot for me to latch onto content-wise. lots of scottish dialect and imagery from the countryside which was a different setting from what i normally read. lots of talk about animals and nature, which i can appreciate but isn’t my favorite subject matter. i enjoyed the more personal/emotional essays in the widowhood section - particularly the longest goodbye & broken hearted - as well as the short stories included at the end. but i don’t think this will have much staying power with me. maybe that’s on me, i haven’t read barker’s novel o caledonia, so i didn’t have much of a connection to these pieces. i think i just prefer a different style of essay than what these are.
January 9, 2024
4 for most of the essays, especially the driving lesson and Portia the pig.
December 26, 2024
Some of the anecdotes that Barker relates are relevant to O Caledonia, and it’s possible to see what inspired her.
For me, that is one of the greatest books I have ever read.
Though this has some humorous moments, in the end it is just a collection of essays that give an insight into Barker’s life.
It’s such a pity she only wrote one novel.
For me, that is one of the greatest books I have ever read.
Though this has some humorous moments, in the end it is just a collection of essays that give an insight into Barker’s life.
It’s such a pity she only wrote one novel.
February 28, 2024
Had just read O Caledonian so had to read this. I wish she’d written more novels. Her prose writing is wonderful, like a stream of consciousness . Don’t read this for plot but for the pleasure of mood, atmosphere and some deeply felt human traits.
January 10, 2024
Lightweight but fun and well written.
May 16, 2024
I had a lot of fun reading Notes from the Henhouse, a wonderfully witty and idiosyncratic collection of autobiographical essays by the Scottish writer Elspeth Barker, whose 1991 novel O Caledonia I so enjoyed a couple of years ago. During her time as a journalist, Barker wrote for various publications, from the Independent and the Observer to the LRB, covering a variety of subjects in her articles. Whether she’s waxing lyrical about childhood holidays, badly behaved pets, driving lessons or the trials of parenthood, Elspeth Barker is a delight to read.
This collection, which comes with a beautiful introduction by Elspeth’s daughter, Raffaella, comprises four main sections covering Barker’s childhood in Scotland, her adult life with husband George and their children, widowhood following George’s death, and a new chapter that emerged late in life. The volume closes with an ‘Appendix’ containing six pieces – mostly fictional with loose connections to some of the key themes from Elspeth’s life. As with every collection of this type, I won’t be covering every essay – there are twenty-three in total! – rather, my aim is to give you a flavour of the book as a whole.
Barker writes lovingly of her childhood in the Scottish Highlands, which reads like a cross between Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle and a Barbara Comyns novel minus the violence. (The family home was a castle, complete with an immense staircase and a menagerie of animals.) In the first essay, Birds of Earth and Air, we learn of Barker’s pet jackdaw, Claws, whom she rescued and nursed back to health to become her devoted companion for eleven years. (Fans of O Caledonia will be familiar with Claws as he is faithfully reproduced in that book!)
Seaside holidays became an annual event for young Elspeth, each trip requiring a ‘migration of immense proportions’ as the family and assorted animals travelled to their ‘normal house’ by the sea. Train journeys proved especially eventful on these occasions, as Barker recalls in this piece.
All the animals, birds, fish and reptiles came, as well as we five children, Nanny, Nanny’s helper and Nanny’s sister. I have horrible memories of the horses escaping from the train and galloping down the railway line, and the scrabble of the tortoises’ claws against the floor of their box as the train swung over the perilous Tay Bridge. (p. 22)
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2024...
This collection, which comes with a beautiful introduction by Elspeth’s daughter, Raffaella, comprises four main sections covering Barker’s childhood in Scotland, her adult life with husband George and their children, widowhood following George’s death, and a new chapter that emerged late in life. The volume closes with an ‘Appendix’ containing six pieces – mostly fictional with loose connections to some of the key themes from Elspeth’s life. As with every collection of this type, I won’t be covering every essay – there are twenty-three in total! – rather, my aim is to give you a flavour of the book as a whole.
Barker writes lovingly of her childhood in the Scottish Highlands, which reads like a cross between Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle and a Barbara Comyns novel minus the violence. (The family home was a castle, complete with an immense staircase and a menagerie of animals.) In the first essay, Birds of Earth and Air, we learn of Barker’s pet jackdaw, Claws, whom she rescued and nursed back to health to become her devoted companion for eleven years. (Fans of O Caledonia will be familiar with Claws as he is faithfully reproduced in that book!)
Seaside holidays became an annual event for young Elspeth, each trip requiring a ‘migration of immense proportions’ as the family and assorted animals travelled to their ‘normal house’ by the sea. Train journeys proved especially eventful on these occasions, as Barker recalls in this piece.
All the animals, birds, fish and reptiles came, as well as we five children, Nanny, Nanny’s helper and Nanny’s sister. I have horrible memories of the horses escaping from the train and galloping down the railway line, and the scrabble of the tortoises’ claws against the floor of their box as the train swung over the perilous Tay Bridge. (p. 22)
To read the rest of my review, please visit:
https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2024...
January 24, 2024
Notes from the Henhouse
On Marrying a Poet, Raising Children and Chickens, and Writing
by Elspeth Barker
Pub Date 19 Mar 2024
Scribner
Biographies & Memoirs| Essays & Collections
Scribner and Netgalley sent me Notes from the Henhouse for review:
A sharp and witty collection of autobiographical essays by the late Elspeth Barker, acclaimed journalist and author of O Caledonia:
Elspeth Barker's sharp and witty essays regularly appeared in the national press after she published her acclaimed, darkly funny novel O Caledonia. The most personal of these pieces is collected in Notes from the Henhouse.
This collection of essays beautifully captures Barker's upbringing and her profound sense of loss following the death of George Barker. She writes about George's former lover Elizabeth Smart and other bohemian and counterculture figures from the 1950s and 1960s. A piece like "Thoughts in a Garden," equal parts funny and moving, portrays the vagaries of raising a big family and assorted pets in a damp and drafty farmhouse.
In Notes from the Henhouse, you get a sneak peek at the incredible life of a writer.
I give Notes From the Henhouse four out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
On Marrying a Poet, Raising Children and Chickens, and Writing
by Elspeth Barker
Pub Date 19 Mar 2024
Scribner
Biographies & Memoirs| Essays & Collections
Scribner and Netgalley sent me Notes from the Henhouse for review:
A sharp and witty collection of autobiographical essays by the late Elspeth Barker, acclaimed journalist and author of O Caledonia:
Elspeth Barker's sharp and witty essays regularly appeared in the national press after she published her acclaimed, darkly funny novel O Caledonia. The most personal of these pieces is collected in Notes from the Henhouse.
This collection of essays beautifully captures Barker's upbringing and her profound sense of loss following the death of George Barker. She writes about George's former lover Elizabeth Smart and other bohemian and counterculture figures from the 1950s and 1960s. A piece like "Thoughts in a Garden," equal parts funny and moving, portrays the vagaries of raising a big family and assorted pets in a damp and drafty farmhouse.
In Notes from the Henhouse, you get a sneak peek at the incredible life of a writer.
I give Notes From the Henhouse four out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
December 3, 2024
Having recently read and loved Elspeth Barker’s only novel, O Caledonia I was keen to search out more of her work. Notes from the Henhouse is a marvellous collection of essays, reviews, stories and autobiographical fragments put together after her death in 2022 by her five children. There are pieces about her marriage to the poet George Barker and their life together in north Norfolk, memories of her childhood in a draughty Scottish castle (I was amazed to discover how much of O Caledonia was based on her own experience), many pieces about animals and a few very beautiful short stories. Her love of the north Norfolk landscape shines through (as does her continual frustration with what she refers to as ‘the highways authority’ about the state of the local roads). Some pieces are very funny, indeed the short essay about learning to drive is hilarious. But it’s Barker’s delightful prose style that makes this a five star book for me.
January 4, 2025
Many of these essays and stories have been previously published, in Dog Days and in the reprint of O Caledonia which had accompanying short stories. It was interesting to reread them in an order related to the course of her life.
There is a fascination in the bizarre, individualistic, somehow rather isolated character of the writing that reminds me of Mervyn Peake and Leonora Carrington. It appeals to me greatly. Reading it enables me to enter another world but one which i recognise.
A couple of the short stories are , knowingly, slightly sentimental, but in general the writing is superbly evocative and good to read. I enjoy the references to other writing and I think her classics studies have supported the development of well crafted prose.
There is a fascination in the bizarre, individualistic, somehow rather isolated character of the writing that reminds me of Mervyn Peake and Leonora Carrington. It appeals to me greatly. Reading it enables me to enter another world but one which i recognise.
A couple of the short stories are , knowingly, slightly sentimental, but in general the writing is superbly evocative and good to read. I enjoy the references to other writing and I think her classics studies have supported the development of well crafted prose.
March 14, 2024
Thank you Scribner for a welcome change of pace read for me, I know little of Elspeth Barker's career but this set of essays reveals to me some timeless voice, a conversation in progress with if not a reader per se, then someone (perhaps herself, a friend, a loved one) and a lot if witty humor and observations. I really enjoyed the style of writing, it felt at times like reading my internal observations about life, the little moments that capture attention or somehow send you down a thought/self reflection rabbit hole.
This was a most appreciated review opportunity for a book I might not have read! Thank you
This was a most appreciated review opportunity for a book I might not have read! Thank you
March 11, 2024
An eclectic collection of essays by Barker who strives to live a good life.
I found the background of the author as described in the prologue to be more interesting than the actual essays themselves.
There didn’t seem to be a resonating theme with the essays, just jumbled together, resembling a flock of chickens going in whichever direction.
I think Barker was content with her life and that does emanate from her essays.
Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the early read.
I found the background of the author as described in the prologue to be more interesting than the actual essays themselves.
There didn’t seem to be a resonating theme with the essays, just jumbled together, resembling a flock of chickens going in whichever direction.
I think Barker was content with her life and that does emanate from her essays.
Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the early read.
March 30, 2024
Elspeth Barker was the writer's writer, beloved by the literary world but largely unknown to the general public and that's such a shame. Notes from the Henhouse was a delight start to finish, at barely over 200 pages, these bite-size essays are the perfect length for dipping into one at a time or savoring over the course of an afternoon.
April 29, 2024
I absolutely loved O Caledonia so was eager to read this, but most of the essays were a little wispy for my taste; I preferred the short stories in the last section. But she did have some great thoughts on pets and widowhood and her writing style is beautiful and unusual and reminds me of Jenny Diski or Caroline Blackwood.
May 24, 2024
Marvellous considering it’s a collection of essays rather than a “book”. I did feel I would have benefited more had I had a classical education however Google provided sufficient context. If there are themes, it’s love, family, and dogs. The prose feels real almost as if having a conversation with the author who was certainly unique.
June 3, 2024
Loved the short stories added at the end, wonderfully written. Enjoyed the introduction, a bio of her life would be fascinating to read. The main section was just bits and pieces of her writings, most quite enjoyable. Some parts, although beautiful seemed jumbled. Thanks to Goodread for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2025
What else have I read...
#notesfromthehenhouse by #elspethbarker
A book that I felt with the depths of my heart thanks to the fact that for 10 years I am living in Scotland. It's been a pleasure to rediscover some places mentioned in the book. To read about moments from the author 's childhood. Her relationship with people but most of all with the animals and the whole nature she was connected to from early life until the last breath.
I should definitely read #ocaledonia by the same author.
Enjoy the reading, my friends!
#readingtherapy
#notesfromthehenhouse by #elspethbarker
A book that I felt with the depths of my heart thanks to the fact that for 10 years I am living in Scotland. It's been a pleasure to rediscover some places mentioned in the book. To read about moments from the author 's childhood. Her relationship with people but most of all with the animals and the whole nature she was connected to from early life until the last breath.
I should definitely read #ocaledonia by the same author.
Enjoy the reading, my friends!
#readingtherapy
January 17, 2026
This collection of autobiographical essays was edited by the late author's daughter.
I found some more interesting that others, as often happens, but they are well written with irony and wit.
3.5 stars from me.
I found some more interesting that others, as often happens, but they are well written with irony and wit.
3.5 stars from me.
June 4, 2024
3 1/2. Barker had such a distinct voice and seems like such an interesting person. I mostly really enjoyed the essays, less so the short stories.
July 9, 2024
Absolutely loved it! Found myself re-reading and re-reading passages, then copying a few down. Vibrant. Wonderful. Fantastic.
October 14, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Got me out of a reading slump, so yes five enthusiastic stars from me!
Got me out of a reading slump, so yes five enthusiastic stars from me!
Currently reading
October 20, 2024I'm only 29 pages in right now but I have already cried twice. I would die for Elspeth Barker. Perfect, outstanding, brilliant writer. I want to go on a walk in a thunderstorm with her.
November 26, 2024
Excellent title! Some shining passages and brilliant lines, but overall did not grip me.
May 17, 2025
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