The Diary of a Farmer's Wife, 1796-1797

by Anne Hughes

The original document, a journal kept by Anne Hughes at the end of the 18th century of her day to day life near Chepstow in Monmouthshire, is thought to have passed down to Jeanne Preston, who transcribed, edited or restored it so that it took on its current form.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Research, Folklore

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treat of a book to read. As I was approaching the last pages, I felt sad. It was as if I was going to be saying good-bye to an old friend. Anne Hughes, in her faithful record, made everyday farm life seem like a wonderful place to be. A window is opened into the workings of a successful farm that is guided by seasonal necessities. Anne's husband is rather successful, short tempered, kind, and oblivious to how neatly he is managed by Anne and her servant girl, Sarah. Mainly through the pacifying meals and drink they arrange knowing he is guided by his stomach. Which overall ends up bring humorous.

Beyond the daily work, the small dramas that led to a few love affairs and scandals kept me thoroughly entertained. Anne's accounting of the "divers things" and "divers company" in her world kept me riveted. But what really made me fall in love with this novel, was the female friendships in it. Anne and Sarah have a beautiful friendship, one in which Anne takes on the role of offering sisterly advice to Sarah as she navigates a fickle beau and finding eventual happiness with another. Lady Susan, Carter's wife, and Anne's mother in law also bring female friendships to the pages and it's lovely to read. Women supporting each other, entertaining each other, working together, and fostering community made this a bit of a comfort read too. The holiday celebrations, the games that are played, and the laughing acknowledgement to stumbling home from these celebrations gave insight into the culture in 1796. There was joy to be had in relationships and friendships with neighbors.

It was also fascinating to read about medical conditions and treatments during this time period and in a rural setting. Life was precarious and I think Anne recognizes that when she sees changes happening for her neighbors and mother in law when tragedy strikes. Again, the sense of community makes it bearable. That sense of community also comes to Anne's rescue when burglaries occur while her husband is away and she is alone on the farm. Though there is a bit of humor when one of the thieves is identified as the tom cat.

Another fascinating aspect in the novel was the food and drink Anne mentions. She loves to learn a new recipe from a friend and take pride in her cooking skill. A few of the various wines Anne makes were ones I hadn't heard of before. The cakes, breads, puddings, and main courses all are detailed in Anne's accounting of her day. A tribute to her skill and the success of the farm. This is a reread for me and I'm glad to have bought a copy. I highly recommend.

[R.J. Lynch · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I were reviewing this as a gentle entertainment I'd probably give it three stars but I'm not -- I'm reviewing it as the historical document it purports to be. I spend a lot of time in archives reading genuine notebooks and diaries from the late 18th century and I knew from the start that the style was all wrong -- and so was much of the word use. Some of the historical detail (like dress) is woefully inaccurate. There's a website that pretends to explain why the original no longer exists and they raise money for a worthy cause, but don't be under any illusions -- this is a hoax.

[Louise Hartgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my comfort books, it soothes my soul and makes my heart happy. The humour, the glimpse into life on a farm in the 18th century, the work needed to keep the place running, the local people, the dresses, the parties, the caring for one another, and of course all that food and drink! Did they seriously eat as much as that? To be honest, I don't believe for a moment the diary's completely authentic, it's far too neat a story. I think it's just well researched historical fiction. But personally I love it so much, I don't care a rap. If you love the book and want to skip the awkward spelling, try to get hold of the audiobook. Elizabeth Proud does a wonderful job reading it.

[Linore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful gem of a book, written by a woman whose candid accounts I found both delightful and quite funny. From the old style of speaking and spelling to the details that sparkle through of everyday life at the time, it’s just a treasure. The author isn’t an accomplished writer but merely kept a record of her life for this relatively short period of time for her own amusement—and thank God she did. This is one I’ll return to again, as I found myself scribbling notes and underlining. It will join my research book shelves for sure.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out loud to my gran in her last days and we both enjoyed it very much. Whether it is a real diary or a story as some have suggested doesn’t bother me... It’s a very charming and comforting read in its observations of daily life.

[Catherine Paddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my mum's favourites and I still have her fairly weather beaten copy. I'm not really bothered if this is historically authentic or not, it's just a lovely comfort read, taking the reader back to a bygone age of churning butter and boiling mutton for "Passon Ellis and his wyffe", of servants, serfdom and hierarchy. It's pure escapism and there are even a few titters along the way.

[KateJoanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a lovely little read despite being so poorly written and nothing of substance actually happening, and yet it’s such an enjoyable glimpse at every day life in this era.
Brilliant prose in the intro that made me went to read the actual content even more, although it was so difficult to read the spelling and poor grammar (I still don’t know what a lot of her words mean), there’s something oddly endearing that just had me sucked in to reading once I’d gotten the hand of the writing.

This copy has such beautiful illustrations and I’m obsessed with the inclusion of recipes for the food mentioned. She feels much younger than I know she actually is, which I suppose is typical for the period.

***

‘We must all cum to the end some time, life be but a little thing, and I do wonder whiles what do lie beyond. But we shall all see anon.’

‘So he out, shutting the door with a grate noise, saying that wimmen was the verrie divvell; at which I so wrothe I did throw a lump of bredd at him, but only hit the shut doore.
/John do think he be such a grett man, but lord he be just a bigge sillie.’

[Jordan Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't actually read this yet and instead it has come to my attention while researching my family tree. I found an email on the Herefordshire Family History society for someone to contact regarding the MEATS family/surname. They got back to me explaining that they weren't a descendant of the MEATS and couldn't help me there but instead told me about this diary and the story of Farmers Weekly. He told me that the diary mentions GRAVES and WELLS surnames. William Meats (1764-1833) and Elizabeth Graves (1774 - 1832) were my 6x great aunt & uncle who were born in Wellington and died in Bridge Sollars. I'm extremely confused as mostly what I've read about the diary/book is that it is historically inaccurate and isn't a real diary, but the places and surnames match up with my ancestors who farmed in Herefordshire. A head scratcher for sure. Will leave a further review once my copy arrives and I've read it. If anyone is curious of my story or is of any relation to the surnames I have mentioned, please message me. Thank you.

[Fionnuala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I'd enjoy this from the first page, when Anne was already talking shit and taking names. She's a very entertaining diarist, honest and good-humoured, kind-hearted and flawed, with a riotous sense of humour and a talent for writing and describing. Everything is so fascinating, even the most mundane of events, and this is only partially down to the fact that, since it's another time, everything is inherently different and interesting. A big part of it is down to the fact that Anne is just a deeply entertaining writer.

I did not expect to have so much fun with this. It was incredibly touching and honest, highly amusing -- I mean, laugh out loud funny in places -- and a brilliant snapshot of time and place. It's such a shame that Anne had no more time to write, because I would have happily read volumes upon volumes of her thoughts.

[Jennifer Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely convinced it is genuine, it exists in a vacuum, not really anchored to any where, surely a farmer's wife would at least have mentioned the nearest market town. Cannot as yet find any 100% certain references on Ancestry or other genealogical sites to any of the characters, yet 1797 is not very long ago, the Parish records are unlikely to have been lost or destroyed
The farming lore and customs are mentioned in other contemporary ssources and they re the same old chestnuts which occur in any book on ancient country customs
There is something not quite authentic about the dialect
certainly it is a very clever compilation which could be true, it just smells wrong
But if it reads like a fraud and sounds like a fraud, then it probably is a fraud

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic tale of farm life in 1797. The treaty of tripoli was just signed, and Napolean had taken Milan.

There are so many wonderful recipes; lamb tail stew, stuffed rabbit, plum cake. No measurements, just vibes. Always a shit ton of apples because they are on that side of the country.

This woman was kind and was always giving people stuff and money. Her best friend was a lady and died and she gave her her best necklace. The farm cellar was ransacked while her husband was gone and she and her friends beat the shit out of the guy. She's kind to her maid and friends with her and helps her get a husband. She is funny and makes fun of her husband in a really enduring way while also expressing her love for him

[Arha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The central question that lies outside of this text is whether it has been fabricated or not. It is clear, even to an untrained eye, that such question can’t be answered in black or white. Some of it has been fabricated, some edited, some lost, and so on. We accept this untruthfulness due to the circumstances in which it has been found. But the underlying matter is the following: did these events or did they not take place? For some reason, thinking that they did happen give the story more weight, yet on second thought, why do we care? The truth is that as long as a story reveals something about ourselves — something about human nature, why shouldn’t we enjoy reading it? Who cares if it’s all a big lie? I think that this is the case with this diary. While reading it, I felt as though it could have happened, and that was reason enough to get me going until the end.

If we look past the matter of veracity, we find a collection of really sweet scenes of pre-industrial farm life told from a perspective that we don’t tend to hear. Anne is deeply entangled in the domesticity of life: she cooks, she takes care of her husband, she cleans, she feeds the animals, and the list continues for there is always something to do at home. Some days are more interesting than others, some more eventful than others; what is clear is that the minutiae of life hasn’t really changed all that much despite being three centuries apart. We still need to work and feed ourselves, and to keep entertained while life throws at us all sorts of obstacles which sometimes we enjoy dealing with, and others we frankly don’t. Life really is a juggle.
I love the simplicity of this book; how candid it is, and cheerful, and sometimes sad. By the end, when Anne confesses that she shan’t continue to write, it is so bittersweet because you realise that you won’t be hearing back from a friend ever again. It really shows you how pleasurable it is to discover somebody else’s life, because even if it’s all a fabrication, in our hearts we know that that fabrication comes from somewhere real.

[Kangelani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether true or fiction, I loved reading this diary. Social history is fascinating to me and this ticked a lot of boxes. Some comments by other readers suggest the quantity of food consumed by the characters could not be true, but consider that they didn't eat garbage "in them days". And they all worked hard, physically, all day long, whether in the fields or in the house. I enjoyed trying to understand the quaint English with crazy spelling, which was probably "normal" in the 18th century.
And the recipes were fascinating too. I usually give away my books once read, but this one will stay with me a while longer. I might even re-read it one day!

[Chris Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diary which is delightful due to its authenticity. Thoroughly enjoyed reading at speed from start to finish. A fascinating insight into rural life in the late 18th century. Most interesting for me were the turns of phrase used: 'a feckless boddie she be,' 'we did laffe right heartilie,' and all the homemade dishes which 'bee verrie nice.' Also the wry enjoyment the farmer's wife, Anne, takes from gently outwitting her husband. This is a book overflowing with simple kindness and morality; a historical gem.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed my head off reading how Anne Hughes manages her farm and husband. Also liked the 18th century recipes included by her. The long hours and hard work involved in farming well before the industrial revolution, were quite shocking. As were the lack of many things including medication for people and animals, that we now take for granted. Don't understand how the women managed caring for their families, homes, etc and help on the land as well.

[Suzanne Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful short text have a fascinating insight into 18th century rural life. The voice, views, joys and hardships of a tiny microcosm were succinctly and vividly portrayed. Though a tumultuous period in body- 1796 - there is no reference to or possibly even awareness of the events in the world beyond her small community. The chasm between rich and poor were stark and the fragility of life very apparent.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, naughty and ripe with wonderful detail from the end of the 1790s. I like the way that Carter's wife doesn't even seem to have a name and is only ever referred to as "Carter's Wife". A real pleasure to read.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it's a very obvious fake with a number of sources used. However, it's a rather charming fake. I kept thinking of its real author all the time. I wonder how it felt writing this in 1937. This book must have been fun to write! Also, some of the recipes look rather good, so I might try them.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very probably not an authentic historical document, but if you approach it as a gentle pastoral work of fiction, it's a very pleasant read.

[Carfig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Folio edition is called "Her Boke" but it isn't listed on this site. A quick read for me and very entertaining. The foreward was nicely informative--asking the question, "Is this a real diary from the 1700s or something made up?" Seems real enough to me, with lots of attitude and hilarious vignettes.

[P.J. Cadavori · Rating 5 out of 5]

While rootling around a most suspicious looking alley I came across a derelict book shop which could only be owned by a serious book lover. In it there was, amongst many unusual offerings, The Diary of a Farmer’s Wife 1796-1797. What a gem indeed – it was first published in 1937 by The Farmers Weekly.

It records the daily life of Anne Hughes; it is “her boke in wiche I write what I doe, when I hav thee tyme, and beginnen wyth this daye, Feb ye 6 1796”. It is absolutely crammed with interesting and humorous anecdotes about her life on the farm, with many very dry and piquant observations about her friends. The cider making is perhaps my favourite because, mine being a Somerset family, her comment rings true:

“Sept ye 15....We hav made much cider these 2 dayes, and John cum in to say old Joe had got a bellie ake with too much drinkeing of the newe jouice. But I pittie him not, he being a greedie olde man who do want all. ”

And throughout the book, mingling with the daily entries, are the most delightful illustrations by Brian Walker. This book (I found the penguin version of 1988) is the best possible use of a small amount of money. It’s so unfortunate that Anne Hughes is no longer with us to reap her rightful accolades.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

c1937. Interesting to read that personality types do not change through out the centuries. Loved the bits where the farmer's wife enjoyed provoking the jealousy of another woman by showing her the materials and dresses that her husband bought her. Also, her increasingly frustrated attempts to train Sarah. Bit difficult at times because of the olde worlde spelling but was great to see some of the old old sayings being used. "Knowing this I could well afford to bring out my black sylk with the white spottes, what John did buy for me and which I had not put on. This did end her bounce so down again, it being two howers since she fed, to tee drinken." Food features largely in her life and the recipes add a piquant flavour to the book. Although declared to be pieces of a diary cobbled together with all the originals lost - it is hard not to get swept up into total belief.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm listing this under historical fiction since there is some doubt about the authenticity of the diary. Surely the hunt for people detailed in the diary (and their descendents) wouldn't be too difficult if they really existed under the names and in the area they are supposed to have lived? 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and 'The Heirhunters' reseachers don't seem to have too many problems with parish records and official documentation when finding much more distant families than these.
It's also a little too neat a story somehow for a diary. However, whether it is authentic or not, all this does not detract from the very enjoyable writing. I loved the humour, the recipes (what a lot of boiled eggs, onion and apple stuffing!) and the relationships between Anne and her husband, his mother and Sarah the maid.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly simple and direct, Anne Hughes wrote her diary over two years in the 1790s. Hiding it from her husband, who obviously wouldn't think much of it despite her fondness for him, she records the goings on of the farm, the seasonal harvests, preparations for parties and deaths, quarrels, courtships, strange happenings and recipes. A quiet, intimate glimpse into a life that was soon to vanish as the Industrial Revolution progressed.

[Amy Talluto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great little time capsule of a year on a farm in England in the late 18th Century. It has its tales of scandal, is funny at times and also includes lots of old recipes, many of which involve stuffing meat with a "mess" of onions, butter, etc...Great read if you love oral history.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed, fictional in whole or part. Recipes, toil of daily living, laughing at small difficulties and help to each other.