My father was a farmer in New Cumnock: The story of a Scottish farming family

by Iain Baird

The end of the nineteenth century was a difficult time for farmers in Scotland. A decade of cold years made it hard to grow crops or feed animals, and grain growers faced competition from America after the repeal of the Corn Laws. In these harsh conditions, ordinary families still pursued their lives and loves. Blending together fiction and fact, My Father Was a Farmer in New Cumnock tells the story of the Baird family, and of their joys and struggles on their farm.

232 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2018

Reviews

[Tiffany Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recently finished reading this book & enjoyed it so much I was sad for it to end. The real & fictional characters are very well written. As a reader you feel like you are joining the family, sharing in the ups & downs of their lives.

As someone who has researched my own family history it was very interesting to hear about a real family during the Victorian era. It has also increased my knowledge of farming & events of the times.

[Rachel Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting read. The historical events from the area are brought to life by the charming story of the Baird family. The book is also full of helpful illustrations and maps so you can picture life in the area at the time. An easy book to pick up and put down on long journeys or the daily commute!

[Thomas Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and I would be interested to read more about the characters. It is an interesting how real family history has been combined with fiction. My only criticism some of the references to wider historical events distract from rather than add to the narrative.