The Farm on the Hill

The Country Child #2

by Alison Uttley

Here is a delightful record of old country ways at the turn of the century: a chronicle of birds and beasts, of simple country folk and the round of the farmer's year - all seen through the wide and wondering eyes of a child.

There is the birth of a foal and the tragedy which follows, the first day at a new school, the bliss of a drive in a pony trap to a distant farm, the miracle of spring water pumped up to fill the great stone troughs, the making of patchwork quilts and reading aloud on winter nights, a courtship, a wedding - and the dreadful ritual of the annual pig-killing.

Susan walks through the wood to the village school for her first party with a big cake under her arm. She drives with the farmer and her wife to receive her long-coveted prize. She wins a scholarship at a small grammar school and leaves her beloved lanes and woods for a country town. There is a peep at the farm kitchen where she does her homework by candlelight to the tune of jangling milk-cans, the clatter of heavy boots on the stone floors and the walk of the farm men.

Alison Uttley's country books have frequently been called masterpieces. This one is certainly in that class.

316 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1941

About the author

Alison Uttley (17 December 1884 – 7 May 1976), née Alice Jane Taylor, was a prolific British writer of over 100 books. She is now best known for her children's series about Little Grey Rabbit, and Sam Pig.

For more information, please see:

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Reviews

[Sula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from The Country Child, this similarly is a slow-paced story describing a lifestyle now lost. However, I think I enjoyed this one a bit more. We see Susan (the protagonist) venture further into the world, becoming a scholarship girl and travelling to her school in town by train. This variation from her life on the farm gave the story a bit more life and interest for me. As this could read as a stand-alone book, for the aforementioned reason I would be tempted to recommend this one over the first one. There are a few darker moments, such as when the pigs have to be slaughtered, but with them are important reminders such as that not one scrap was wasted of them and they were put to good use in every way they could. These more descriptive books of how life in the countryside used to be remind me a little of Lark Rise to Candleford. As with the first book it is scattered with some poetic descriptions which are very nice.

I would like to continue to read of Susan as she grows up, and see whom she becomes. Perhaps there is a another book in this series, for until I picked up this book and started reading it I was unaware that there was a sequel to The Country Child; there was no mention of it being connected on the web.

[Mara Strange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful of course