Trafficking in Sheep: A Memoir

by Anne Barclay Priest

A poignant story of one woman's determination to start a life anew in idyllic Nova Scotia, far away from her jetsetting-New Yorker roots. A working actress and divorced mother of two young boys takes off for the summer to the coast of Nova Scotia. She falls in love with the place; buys a house; ultimately buys an island because it is the view from her house and because she wants to save it from development. With the help of none other than the real-life assistant to the legendary vet James Herriot, she finds herself the owner of a flock of quasi-wild sheep on Blue Island, Nova Scotia. So begins Anne Barclay Priest's wonderful tale of her life between New York and Nova Scotia that extends over the next several decades. Her hilarious and heart-warming stories populated with evocative local characters and unforgettable animal friends recount the trials and tribulations of this urban actress/rural farmer life. It's the story of a woman who has dared to live the kind of independent and self-directed life that the rest of us only dream about.

Genres: Memoir, Biography, Nonfiction, Canada

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2006

Reviews

[Colleen Jackson]

A very enjoyable read! I loved the James Herriot books when I read them decades ago. Trafficking in Sheep strikes me as a good companion memoir to those books, especially because Priest’s sheep farming mentor Brian Nettleton was one of Alf Wight’s (aka James Herriot) assistant vets.
Anne Barclay Priest is a very good writer, and I really enjoyed reading about her sheep farming life in Nova Scotia and New York.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book! I know nothing about sheep and found the stories interesting. My connection is to her time in Nova Scotia. My grandmother was born on Blue Island and I have recently been there. The ruins of Anne's cabin is still there as is an enclosure for the sheep. I loved her determination and the stories of the people she knew.

[Sandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written by Anne Barclay Priest - her story; actress, and sheep farmer. Split her time between Nova Scotia and New York. Amazing what people will do when they love what they are doing!

[Lauri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, especially since we just traveled to Nova Scotia this summer and I was looking forward to reading about the author's adventures there. However, I didn't love the book. I finished it - I cared enough to do that - but it wasn't what I was hoping for. Anne Priest is clearly a remarkable woman, capable of doing anything she sets her mind to. Of course, it helps that she clearly had a privileged upbringing and hasn't had a great deal of financial difficulty throughout her life (at least that was the impression I got from the book). Most of us don't have a house on the Cape, inheritances from dying relatives, or the proceeds from our parents' houses to help us. That being said, Anne is a resourceful woman who doesn't shy away from hard work or new experiences, and I did appreciate that part of the story. I also learned quite a bit about how much work it is to take care of sheep!

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Grandma gave me this book knowing that I have an interest in sheep. Reading this book definitely gives you insight into all that goes into raising and caring for sheep. Priest's book has less to do with the fiber arts than I thought it would- although it crops up here and there. If you feel squeamish about raising sheep for meat you may not want to read this. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of my Grandma and how strong she and other women of her generation were.

[Annmarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story and was sad to learn that Anne Priest died in late 2010. I had hoped to see her again at the New York State Sheep & Wool Festival this fall. I would give this book more stars if the editing had been better. But even without good editing, so many of the stories Anne Priest tells in this book are very touching and sometimes very, very funny.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh ... Not the book I anticipated reading. I kept going but didn't love it. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or that I wasn't totally sure where it was going. Her life was interesting but it never fully engaged me.

[Karrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great memoir, and her farm is right near my house.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this fiesty woman! What a story - I loved it. And loved the connections to other great life stories, like the James Herriot character.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty slow and directionless ...

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extra fun if you know the author

[Patrice M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked her writing and found the stories easy to read.. there were just too many sheep stories and I lost track as to who was who, after about 15 years worth.