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Pigs in Clover
This is the true story of a Londoner who gives up his job as an estate agent in the city, moves to the wilds of Exmoor, starts a smallholding and becomes self-sufficient, with a few bumps along the way. Simon's journey from urbanite to self-sufficient smallholder is brimming with incidents - some funny and some tragic - leading him to question Mother Nature, himself, the food he eats, and his role in it all. Which makes the transition from city life to self-sufficient smallholder slow, emotional and, for him, often confusing, but it is also beautiful, warming and laugh-out-loud funny.
So if you would like to spend time with an accidental smallholder who completely changed one drunken night in Devon, then join Simon, his wife and their extended family as they learn the truth of what it takes to live a self-sufficient life, before eventually becoming as happy as the proverbial pigs in clover.
So if you would like to spend time with an accidental smallholder who completely changed one drunken night in Devon, then join Simon, his wife and their extended family as they learn the truth of what it takes to live a self-sufficient life, before eventually becoming as happy as the proverbial pigs in clover.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
May 20, 2015
A lovely bedtime read. A story about being torn between city and country, life running a small-holding farm in Devon, a happy marriage and lots of much loved and contented animals. Simon Dawson's humour is a great pleasure too. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
February 25, 2017
This has to be one of the best books I have ever read. The writing is amazing and I never wanted it to end. It is so inspirational that I just wanted to buy some land and do it all myself! Absolutely fantastic book.
March 8, 2019
Heartfelt and really familiar to someone who is another smallholder. Review soon.
April 3, 2016
I listened to this book in audio form and I have to say that it was the best audiobook I have ever listened to. I listened to the majority of it while I was working out on the treadmill and it was the first time in my life where I actually could hardly wait to get to the workout room in my building so I could hear more of the story.
This is a memoir about a husband and wife who leave London to live on a smallholding (in Canada we call them acreages) in Exmoor England, which is located in the south west part of the country. Simon was an estate agent and his wife, Debbie was a solicitor. One New Year’s Eve after several (many?) drinks, Debbie confides in Simon that she can’t take living in London anymore and being a solicitor and she asks him whether he would consider moving to Exmoor and getting some animals and being what we call in a Canada, a hobby-farmer. They are at a New Year’s Eve party where the music is very loud and he cannot hear what Debbie is saying (plus the fact he has had quite a few drinks). All he hears is the word London and agrees to whatever Debbie says. The next day he finds out what he has agreed to.
The book goes on to tell the story of how he and his wife became totally self-sufficient farmers doing everything from raising and butchering animals for the meat, selling eggs, making cheese and wine, and eventually holding courses on these things. They had pigs, boars, horses, goats, chickens, turkeys, geese, sheep, and dogs on this smallholding and all the adventures that come with them.
Part of what made this book so wonderful was the humorous writing style of the author and the excellent job that the narrator did of the audio book version. Ben Allen was the narrator and did different voices for Simon and Debbie. If was very reminiscent of the Wingfield plays where the actor does all the different voices for the characters. A sequel to this book is also now available and it is entitled “The Sty’s The Limit”.
This is a memoir about a husband and wife who leave London to live on a smallholding (in Canada we call them acreages) in Exmoor England, which is located in the south west part of the country. Simon was an estate agent and his wife, Debbie was a solicitor. One New Year’s Eve after several (many?) drinks, Debbie confides in Simon that she can’t take living in London anymore and being a solicitor and she asks him whether he would consider moving to Exmoor and getting some animals and being what we call in a Canada, a hobby-farmer. They are at a New Year’s Eve party where the music is very loud and he cannot hear what Debbie is saying (plus the fact he has had quite a few drinks). All he hears is the word London and agrees to whatever Debbie says. The next day he finds out what he has agreed to.
The book goes on to tell the story of how he and his wife became totally self-sufficient farmers doing everything from raising and butchering animals for the meat, selling eggs, making cheese and wine, and eventually holding courses on these things. They had pigs, boars, horses, goats, chickens, turkeys, geese, sheep, and dogs on this smallholding and all the adventures that come with them.
Part of what made this book so wonderful was the humorous writing style of the author and the excellent job that the narrator did of the audio book version. Ben Allen was the narrator and did different voices for Simon and Debbie. If was very reminiscent of the Wingfield plays where the actor does all the different voices for the characters. A sequel to this book is also now available and it is entitled “The Sty’s The Limit”.
April 21, 2013
This book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Honestly? This book had me rolling with laughter from the first page. I would dearly love to know why the escaped piglets are so determined to reach the post office. Perhaps they have something they desperately need to post?
This book is an engaging, sincere, endearing look at the author's journey from a London estate agent to a smallholder in the country. It's a reluctant journey at first, taken in fits and starts to please his wife, leaving his city life behind a bit at a time, but it's a wonderful ride. I found the author's slightly bumbling, more than slightly clueless at times, persona immensely readable and amusing, but above all else, genuine. Everything he wrote felt real, with little or no room reserved for any personal ego. His accounts of his many "near death experiences" were especially fun reads. They can't have been fun to experience, but the telling of them carries more than a touch of humor.
The animals especially shine, becoming quite real to the reader. I have a soft spot for pigs, and reading about them being raised for meat was hard for me, but I found the approach that Mr. Dawson took to the issue both respectful and as kind as the situation allowed. I couldn't do what he does, not with pigs, but I appreciate the way he does it. I really admire the sort of self-sufficiency that the Dawsons achieved. It would be wonderful if we could all live that way, but I fear that's nothing more than a pipe dream for most of us.
It isn't without its sad moments, bringing tears to the eyes, or without its stressful moments, as money grows ever tighter. But it is definitely a book worth reading.
Honestly? This book had me rolling with laughter from the first page. I would dearly love to know why the escaped piglets are so determined to reach the post office. Perhaps they have something they desperately need to post?
This book is an engaging, sincere, endearing look at the author's journey from a London estate agent to a smallholder in the country. It's a reluctant journey at first, taken in fits and starts to please his wife, leaving his city life behind a bit at a time, but it's a wonderful ride. I found the author's slightly bumbling, more than slightly clueless at times, persona immensely readable and amusing, but above all else, genuine. Everything he wrote felt real, with little or no room reserved for any personal ego. His accounts of his many "near death experiences" were especially fun reads. They can't have been fun to experience, but the telling of them carries more than a touch of humor.
The animals especially shine, becoming quite real to the reader. I have a soft spot for pigs, and reading about them being raised for meat was hard for me, but I found the approach that Mr. Dawson took to the issue both respectful and as kind as the situation allowed. I couldn't do what he does, not with pigs, but I appreciate the way he does it. I really admire the sort of self-sufficiency that the Dawsons achieved. It would be wonderful if we could all live that way, but I fear that's nothing more than a pipe dream for most of us.
It isn't without its sad moments, bringing tears to the eyes, or without its stressful moments, as money grows ever tighter. But it is definitely a book worth reading.
September 30, 2013
I laughed, cried - but mostly laughed.
~ * ~
This is a fun memoir. I've read other books that made me giggle, smile, or chuckle... This title made me laugh out loud multiple times.
I instantly felt close to Simon and Debbie. I wanted them to succeed. And I loved the animals!! The author has such talent of describing critter personalities. He writes wonderful action and emotion.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this book.
You need to read this book - especially if you need a good laugh.
~ * ~
This is a fun memoir. I've read other books that made me giggle, smile, or chuckle... This title made me laugh out loud multiple times.
I instantly felt close to Simon and Debbie. I wanted them to succeed. And I loved the animals!! The author has such talent of describing critter personalities. He writes wonderful action and emotion.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy of this book.
You need to read this book - especially if you need a good laugh.
February 28, 2018
It's a true story, about a married couple, one a solicitor & one an estate agent, who go to live in Devon & set up a small holding. Their ups & downs &. how they cope with the day-to-day running. Funny & at times sad. But I found it interesting. I'm now reading his second book, The Sty's the Limit.
August 25, 2020
A humourous and enjoyable look at a reluctant small-holder. It's amusing and tongue in cheek, though it leaves me wondering about the nature of the Simon's relationship with his partner as she breezes ahead with plans to change their life with limited input from himself. It was fun but not riveting, enjoyable but not unputdownable.
April 28, 2013
Very enjoyable. Simon's droll British humor is clever and self-deprecating, and I love the way his wife Debbie shines at the heroine of the story. It's a cross between Peter Mayle and James Herriott-- city boy moves to the country, with a healthy dose of animals to love.
February 22, 2019
Brilliant book. Well written, funny and real.
October 13, 2017
A light read about "the good life" which as we all know is subject to individual taste.
In this case, it's about leaving city life behind and being a self-sufficient farmer. The author stumbles through it, not even sure if it is his version of the good life. Honestly, I wasn't completely convinced that it really is his "good life" in the end. I guess that does matter, if I am convinced, it is what he has chosen and what he wrote a book about.
The book is fairly humorous but a bit cheesy in places.
In this case, it's about leaving city life behind and being a self-sufficient farmer. The author stumbles through it, not even sure if it is his version of the good life. Honestly, I wasn't completely convinced that it really is his "good life" in the end. I guess that does matter, if I am convinced, it is what he has chosen and what he wrote a book about.
The book is fairly humorous but a bit cheesy in places.
March 7, 2022
As a farmers daughter I know how hard it is to make a living farming, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. Sadly when people move out of city life into the country to try and be self Sufficient, they can be take for a ride, ie The land they bought sounded as if it was very neglected and was probably worth half they paid for it. I hope their lives are easier now. I’m not sure his family comes out very well in all of this, making him redundant while still driving a Porsche, but I guess that’s life
July 3, 2021
The good part : I like reading about city people making it ,into farming .I liked reading the time that took Simon to really gave up his city life and his thoughts.
The bad part : I am not in to butchering, and making sausages. I skipped parts about the butchery .
There is this duality of keeping animals for yourself ,and the other half being cared for killing and eating .
There is consolation that half of their income came from his writing .
The bad part : I am not in to butchering, and making sausages. I skipped parts about the butchery .
There is this duality of keeping animals for yourself ,and the other half being cared for killing and eating .
There is consolation that half of their income came from his writing .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2020
Loved it
Haven’t laughed so much for yonks. If you are an animal- person you’ll love this book. As a Londoner that dreams of the country-life, this let me live it for a while: thank you
Haven’t laughed so much for yonks. If you are an animal- person you’ll love this book. As a Londoner that dreams of the country-life, this let me live it for a while: thank you
December 5, 2018
I kept waiting for it to become interesting or engaging, but it didn’t. I have no idea what all these people who are saying it if the best book they’ve ever read were reading, because this is slop.
August 27, 2021
Loved this! Definitely going to read the second book.
November 12, 2021
Very funny was laughing from start to end with sad bits inbetween, Hope he's doing better for money now :)
March 10, 2023
Lots of fun and what a great collection of stories.
January 18, 2025
A fun humorous look at someone starting a small farm with no actual background in farming.
January 11, 2026
This is, and always will be, my favourite book
June 4, 2013
First a confession from me; having had a dream similar to Simon's I have, over the last few years, read a number of books with similar themes. It is, however, fair to say that this is by far the best of the genre...
If you read it chapter by chapter, as I did the second time I read it, you quickly realise that this is not a book, it is more a series of conversations, the kind that you have with a friend, over the course of several years, preferably in a pub over a pint or two. Of course, much of the time it would be your round, but that is part of the struggle of starting a smallholding, beer is often a luxury for those involved (we won't mention the dandelion wine...).
The book is a frank and intimate telling of two people turning their lives upside down and inside out, on an almost spontaneous rejection of all that they previously held dear; like safe jobs, regular salaries, work and even family.
Simon and Debbie landed up in Devon with a dream, or rather two dreams, Simon's of a three - days - in - the - country - four - days - in - London kind of existence, with Debbie throwing herself headlong into country life with abandon. With such differing views it is inevitable (to the reader) that something is going to have to give. I won't spoil things by telling you what happens, Simon does that better than I ever could, but the story is played out almost in real time, the details are all there; the great, the good, the heart-warming and the scary, and the bits that a lesser man would have "forgotten" to mention.
You have to admire Simon's honesty, he could so easily have written a whitewashed, sanitised, version of events, but instead chose to tell the story as it happened, with full descriptions of the emotional turmoil he went through before reaching his conclusions.
Like I said above, I've read a few books with this theme, I'll do you a favour and tell you that this is the one that you should buy.
If you read it chapter by chapter, as I did the second time I read it, you quickly realise that this is not a book, it is more a series of conversations, the kind that you have with a friend, over the course of several years, preferably in a pub over a pint or two. Of course, much of the time it would be your round, but that is part of the struggle of starting a smallholding, beer is often a luxury for those involved (we won't mention the dandelion wine...).
The book is a frank and intimate telling of two people turning their lives upside down and inside out, on an almost spontaneous rejection of all that they previously held dear; like safe jobs, regular salaries, work and even family.
Simon and Debbie landed up in Devon with a dream, or rather two dreams, Simon's of a three - days - in - the - country - four - days - in - London kind of existence, with Debbie throwing herself headlong into country life with abandon. With such differing views it is inevitable (to the reader) that something is going to have to give. I won't spoil things by telling you what happens, Simon does that better than I ever could, but the story is played out almost in real time, the details are all there; the great, the good, the heart-warming and the scary, and the bits that a lesser man would have "forgotten" to mention.
You have to admire Simon's honesty, he could so easily have written a whitewashed, sanitised, version of events, but instead chose to tell the story as it happened, with full descriptions of the emotional turmoil he went through before reaching his conclusions.
Like I said above, I've read a few books with this theme, I'll do you a favour and tell you that this is the one that you should buy.
June 26, 2013
Pigs in Clover is the hilarious tale of Simon Dawson and his wife, Debbie, who decide to move to the country and be almost totally self-sufficient on their small farm in Devon, England. Prior to their life as small-time farmers they lived in London and worked as a real estate agent (Simon) and an attorney (Debbie).
This book was so wonderful, it was a truly enjoyable read. I can really not even write a long review about it because there was really nothing that I didn't like. I loved reading about country life and their struggles. Simon's relationship with his animals was definitely entertaining and I loved the parts with their friend Ziggy. This was a wonderfully entertaining memoir. Never a boring moment. Sometimes it was funny, sometimes it was stressful, sometimes it was sad, Simon did a great job of making the reader feel the emotion right through the pages as if they were right there on the smallholding with him. No matter what was happening in the book, the atmosphere remained light and chatty. This is a great pleasure read and I am giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Watkins Publishing Limited in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so wonderful, it was a truly enjoyable read. I can really not even write a long review about it because there was really nothing that I didn't like. I loved reading about country life and their struggles. Simon's relationship with his animals was definitely entertaining and I loved the parts with their friend Ziggy. This was a wonderfully entertaining memoir. Never a boring moment. Sometimes it was funny, sometimes it was stressful, sometimes it was sad, Simon did a great job of making the reader feel the emotion right through the pages as if they were right there on the smallholding with him. No matter what was happening in the book, the atmosphere remained light and chatty. This is a great pleasure read and I am giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Watkins Publishing Limited in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2014
Insightful without being too navel-gazing, humorous without trying too hard, and a very good look at the highs and lows of trying to make it as a self-sufficient, though unintentional, smallholder in the modern era. (Albeit one that can support himself - at least somewhat, now - as an author.) I laughed out loud at times, and teared up at at least one other point, and overall came away with a great deal of respect for the work and money required to carve out this sort of life. It also left me troubled anew by the questions and difficulties surrounding modern food production, particularly the production of meat. I don't have answers, obviously, but I have been renewed in my determination to at least consider these questions on a regular basis.
All in all, this book will be going next to "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" on my Shelf o' Books That Make Me Think About Food.
All in all, this book will be going next to "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" on my Shelf o' Books That Make Me Think About Food.
July 16, 2013
Country Life Meets City Lawyer and Wins!
From the first sentence through the last word you will be enthralled with this book. While Mrs. City gladly greets country life and indeed blossoms, Mister City fights it every step of the way. The book isn’t just about the gradual love affair with the country it is also about marriage and how to be a great neighbor. Pigs in Clover offers you important life lessons – like putting your partner’s needs ahead of your own, or how it is okay to let others help you in times of need! You will cry real tears on some pages and laugh aloud on others. You will find yourself rooting for the Mister and smiling with joy when he realizes where his happiness is to be found – inside himself in the country. I am hopeful there will be a book 2 because I am anxious to find out what has transpired after the book ended. Enjoy! NetGalley provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the first sentence through the last word you will be enthralled with this book. While Mrs. City gladly greets country life and indeed blossoms, Mister City fights it every step of the way. The book isn’t just about the gradual love affair with the country it is also about marriage and how to be a great neighbor. Pigs in Clover offers you important life lessons – like putting your partner’s needs ahead of your own, or how it is okay to let others help you in times of need! You will cry real tears on some pages and laugh aloud on others. You will find yourself rooting for the Mister and smiling with joy when he realizes where his happiness is to be found – inside himself in the country. I am hopeful there will be a book 2 because I am anxious to find out what has transpired after the book ended. Enjoy! NetGalley provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2015
I loved this book - it somehow managed to be both an incredibly profound reflection on our relationship with farm animals and the feelings brought up by slaughtering livestock, and still have me laughing till I struggled to breathe at descriptions of various accidents involving electric fences (I don't want to spoil the details for anyone). It also managed to be very real - so many of these books claim to be an honest account of a self sufficient life but this is one of the best I've read at conveying just how grindingly miserable not quite having enough money to get by on is, while still staying funny.
April 10, 2022
Simon Dawson is a funny and witty author who smartly tell his part of life story. It's a dream for almost most people to live with nature, quit their rat race life, and be self-sustained. But is it that beautiful? Is moving and switching your lifestyle could fulfill your happiness? What is happiness anyway?
In this book, he made me laugh almost all the way, even in bitterness. Which I like because he seems trying to made the reader see the silver lining in everything. Still, I can feel his pain, their pain and their loss, but he made me (precisely like he want to) see the good part of it.
A talented writer. Would love to read more from him.
In this book, he made me laugh almost all the way, even in bitterness. Which I like because he seems trying to made the reader see the silver lining in everything. Still, I can feel his pain, their pain and their loss, but he made me (precisely like he want to) see the good part of it.
A talented writer. Would love to read more from him.
September 20, 2015
This is the story of how an estate agent from London with no experience of animals is persuaded by his wife to buy a small holding in Devon. One of the best books I've read for a while.
A truly fascinating and great read, written in an easy to read style with humour from the start, yet frank, open, honest sometimes sad. Very eye opening into the real hardships faced by our smallholders and small farmers across the land. His accounts of being financially broke are both funny and poignant at the same time. I really appreciated his total honesty throughout the book.
A truly fascinating and great read, written in an easy to read style with humour from the start, yet frank, open, honest sometimes sad. Very eye opening into the real hardships faced by our smallholders and small farmers across the land. His accounts of being financially broke are both funny and poignant at the same time. I really appreciated his total honesty throughout the book.
June 5, 2013
James Herriot is leaning up against the Rainbow Bridge, reading this and laughing his ass off. And Gerald Durrell is rounding the corner, determined to discover what the fuss is all about. When a London real estate agent and his lawyer wife decide to move to the country and, unwittingly join the slow food movement, there are struggles, tears, piles of various kinds of manure and bogs of mud, but most of all, raucous laughter.
September 18, 2013
For anyone who has 'itchy' feet for the country life........ DON'T READ THIS BOOK!!!! I loved every minute of it..... Simon writes in such a way that you really are there with him! You share his frustrations, joys and tears!! His ' I don't want this life really' was a joy to read and then is acceptance that he was no longer a 'city' boy. I just wish I was there..........
May 9, 2019
Pigs in Clover - what a funny and heartfelt warts and all description of rural life in deepest Devon.
Simon Dawson shares so much of himself, his feelings for his lovely farm, his animals with all their distinct personalities and the love for his wife. These are the neighbours I would like. Well done.
Witty, honest & gently educating us as we read- no mean feat.
Simon Dawson shares so much of himself, his feelings for his lovely farm, his animals with all their distinct personalities and the love for his wife. These are the neighbours I would like. Well done.
Witty, honest & gently educating us as we read- no mean feat.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews