The Farm

by Richard Benson

Farm

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Nature, Biography, Book Club

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Denise O'Meara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently stumbled across this book in a unique second hand book shop called Leakey's in Inverness. It was one of those shops that was overflowing with books and smelled like old books. I spent a couple of hours there, but in truth I could still be there discovering new gems on every row.
Richard Benson's "The Farm" was the only book that I purchased that day. I was instantly intrigued by the photo on the cover, possibly because I have similar photos from my own childhood growing up on a farm.

The memoir begins with Richard in London where he receives an early morning phone call from his father explaining that their farm in Yorkshire will have to be sold due to mounting debts on the farm. Richard offers to come home to help them prepare for the sale.

Throughout the book, Richard recounts daily, everyday tasks that took place on the farm, and beautifully explains the emotion, attachment and longing that people have for farming, and the way of life that accompanies it. Each chapter is simple, but beautifully nostalgic. Richard also details how farming has changed, and due to increased globalisation and technology, it has become harder than ever to make a living from the land. Farmers end up earning less, despite producing more, and have had adverse effects on biodiversity and the environment as a consequence. Richard doesn't pretend that he knows how to fix these issues, none of us do, but he acknowledges it in a melancholy sort of way.

This book was published in 2005, but it rings true today and will do into the future. It is a beautiful book that I'll keep in my library to read again.

[Bettie]

WHAH - look at the book description here on grrramazon:

Amazon store this book for us, then pick, pack and deliver as well as provide 1st Class customer service. Books Found Fast via Amazon..

I'll be off to the Random Penguin to fill my basket.

[Duncan M Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The number of small farms in the UK has declined dramatically, at the same time as we've all changed our shopping and eating habits, swapped local for international food and destroyed a traditional approach to farming. The book charts the changes as seen through the fortunes of one family with wry amusement, humour and anger.

It's a well written story which you'll enjoy even if you have no real interest in farming or the countryside, as it is written by the son who was such a hopeless prospect as a farmer that he went to university and became a journalist, giving the story much of its humour and anguish. And if you wonder at the implications of the shift from small producers to big corporations and how insidiously those changes take place, this book provides a masterclass, showing how implicit in the process we all are by the innocent way we shop.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - i'm currently unwell and this book has been sat on my shelf for 15 years since i went on holiday with a friend who read it and was going to leave it behind and i can't stand that! I loved it and am so glad i read it instead of consigning it to the charity box - i learnt things and i think i am pretty clued up on live in the country and the practicalities - it was honest and i liked the glimpses of a very happy home life and the funny twists life takes on a family and a business to bring people to the point of selling up. Thankyou

[Margaret Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book. So good that I hesitated to share it, wanting to keep this gem to myself. Beautifully written. Poignant story.

[Sergio Gómez Senovilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the form of a memoir and with a simple narrative, Richard Benson explores the transformations that have impacted rural English society over the past two decades. It’s worth noting that all of them are applicable to any member country of the European Union.

The author addresses the ambiguous ground between the antagonistic romanticisation and protection of traditions, and the critical and serene reception of change.

In several short chapters, the author soothingly gives attention to important issues such as large-scale agriculture, the use of pesticides, the benefits and limitations of local production, the acceptance of change as part of progress, animal welfare, globalisation, cultural and identity loss and how this affects the readaptation of the generation that suffers from it, depression and suicide, and much more.

[Ivan Monckton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book new when it first came out, and it sat in my piles of books to be read for 16 years, until a couple of days ago! Sometimes, just like the author, I can be stupid, because the book is exceptionally well written. Forget the whinging and moaning that often accompanies farming memoirs, or the other extreme, the false nostalgia for ‘country life’ of many others. This is an eminently readable account of the difficulties small farmers face in modern agriculture, and I do mean farmers rather than small holders or the hobby variety, and the way different members of the family cope. It was all utterly real, without doubt the best farming book I have ever read.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written first book. Essentially a memoir which sensitively explores the issues of change in farming in Yorkshire during the author's lifetime - the demise of small farms ecologically viable if not financially, the rise of European subsidies, gentrification of the villages and countryside, changes in employment opportunities and not least the varied feelings that those affected by the changes experience. It also explores the loneliness of farming and the high rates of suicide. All these issues are contained in a series of anecdotal chapters described in a very engaging way. Shortlisted for the Guardian first book award 2005.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book full of courage and sadness and a wistful feeling for the loss of a way of life (although being made fully aware of the harsh realities of the old ways) but there is still plenty to raise a chuckle or a wry smile.

It is written with an authentic Yorkshire country voice but without the cliches and caricature that might have been imposed if the author wasnt a born and bred son of the land, albeit one that moved to the big city.

By the end you really care for all the people that have been introduced and you long for them to be happy and find their place in a changing world.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be a very introspective and semi-melancholy read which isn't where I want to be. Benson's story kept me wondering what would happen next and expecting the worse, but he and his family kept on keeping on. The story is a personal look at the collapse of the family business and the entire farming industry and the impact it has on a community. Farmers are resilient people and pick up what pieces they have and do their thing.

[Tauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, our last night in Scotland was at a guest house with no wi-fi, so found this book on the shelf. What a great book - i read the whole book in that one evening! Written about a very difficult time in his family's life that was challenging and hard on the farm, as it was a great many families around the world. This real life account brings a spotlight to how difficult farming can be and how fragile it is to hold onto what is actually important in life. Highly recommend.

[Joe Bridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arguably my favourite book I’ve ever read. Shows the real cultural and emotional value attached to British Farming and how the decline is hurting real, hard working individuals forcing them to leave their family homes (almost gentrification like) due to the decline caused by supermarkets wanting the perfectly uniform produce (no wonky carrots allowed) :(

[Louise Bleakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely book, giving an insight into growing up on a farm post-war and beyond. It is very sad that so many people are affected by the Government moving from smaller diverse farming to large one-type farming. I know others affected by yet more changes this week in Wales, so this was even more prominent as I finished the book.

A delightful read.

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benson looks back at his childhood on a Yorkshire farm, sees the changes taking place, the acceptance of his family, but the devastation it brings to their way of life, and to that of others. Moving, beautiful, often funny, touching, profound. Loved it. Highly recommended.

[Angela Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I brought back memories of tales my mother told me. She was a farmer's daughter. I was brought up in the countryside of W. Yorkshire so there was also plenty of my own memories. Beautifully written and poignant.

[Lorna Sixsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very honest, very poignant and with some brilliant flashes of humour.

[Charlie Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sign o' the times in the farming industry; Tragic and compelling and hit very close to home. Would reccomend to anyone who wishes to know more about the roots of our countryside

[Alfie Hollingsworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring. Potentially a decent insight into farming for people who know nothing but on the most part not that thrilling

[John Ingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a family history within farming than any detailed study of farming and the changes over the years, although these are touched on. Readable, well paced but a bit boring.

[Hina S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Actually

[Alistair Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written book. Not at all what I expected. Sad in place and joyous in others.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sobering story of the demise of the farming community in this country.
Written by one of two brothers, the elder continuing with parents and farm, the other leaving for the city and a completely different life. Valuable in that the elder is a complete realist as to the situation, whereas the writer and younger, still sees farms in the way that many of us do.
To précis what his brother says, ' you want to see the countryside with fields, cows, sheep, pigs and mixed crops etc., then you go and do your shopping in a supermarket '
The writer points out that the mixture of livestock and produce meant that a failure in one area could be offset in another. However the demands of supermarkets, and the like, wanting to buy only in bulk mean that small farms go out of business. The the buildings are sold as second or retirement homes, whilst the land is used to make bigger single crop factory farms. Even this is at the mercy of the big buyers, forcing prices down when they feel like it, or buying abroad.
It could be that one day the only ' farm ' you might see is in a theme park. My comment, not the author.

[Haresh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Farm, I picked up this book from a big book sale. Why i picked this book is because i wanted to read something about Family and Farm. So when i saw it, i picked up without hesitation.

It is a story about a Family living in Britain, their main occupation is farming. The book revolved around the hard time family faces with changing economy, globalization and its effect on agriculture and tradition way of living of Britain.

It is written by Richard Benson, from his point of view about how his family is going thru and how the neighborhood has changed to stay at par with changing world.

One thing i would like to point is that this book is having lots of short forms, which a non British person would find very difficult to understand, for example This is written as Tis, and so on. but it was a good read.

I would recommend this book to all who like to read about family and farm.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a country lass who's gone all citified and at new year was laughed at for wearing red high heels in a muddy field, it was instructive to read this book by a country lad who's also gone all citified but, with a tearful eye, remembers a childhood of bottle-feeding wee lambies and the like. It nicely ties together the history of one farming family with the bigger global picture - all very topical now what with all this talk of food production and carbon footprint what not. It's not all organic shoes and catching fresh yoghurt from the streams though - there's a strong son-of-a-pig-farmer practicality to it. aye.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that soon reminded me of "Maximum Diner" in its style and easy, effortless portrait of a time, people and places. This had more emotional punch though, and often threatened a really tragic ending which never actually came. The overall message of the book was more "Change happens, and life goes on", than what I feared (which was "We hate change, we don't want it and Britain must preserve our farming heritage at any cost"). It was therefore a lot more enjoyable than I expected, and the author drew real life-like portraits of the characters and the land he wanted to preserve in print. Certainly one of the better books I've read this year.

[Mairead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, a proper look inside small farming in rural Yorkshire. I identified so much with a lot of the story even though I grew up in rural Ireland, then to London and then back to rural Devon. I cried salty tears for him, his family and all of us who will loose a way of life that is being lost forever. I laughed out loud at him, his family and neighbours and myself because he understands you need to keep a sense of humour to keep yourself away from the loss that can lead to suicide, a huge real problem in rural communities. I loved the detail he gave each member of his family and the community. I would put this book on the school curriculum.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Benson writes about the declining fortunes of his family's farm with poignancy but never with sentimentality or self-pity. He is clear-eyed enough to see and describe the forces gathering beyond the control of one small Yorkshire family that threaten and then engulf their East Riding farm. Although this was published ten years ago, the book nevertheless feels very immediate, probably because the squeeze on small farmers has just got worse since then. This is a real gem of a book and I'm very glad I read it, however belatedly.

[Juliana Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly touching book that explains a lot of the difficult issues the farming community faces in today's supermarket dominated world. I found it quite sad in places and definitely thought provoking, though I think my limited experience of farm life did make it even more interesting as i was able to relate to things more easily.

[Tia Crane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting angle with which to view the collapse of the family farm in a nation turning to easier and faster sources of food. I was very interested in the story itself and I appreciated the intimacy which the author shared with his reader, but ultimately I felt the writing and compartmentalization of the book was very rudimentary.

[Hmpf · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accidental read - found this in the holiday cottage we're renting at the moment and surprised myself by getting really into it, somehow. Maybe it's because there's something of a history of farming in my family as well, though not as immediate as the author's (an uncle and aunt were the last farmers in my somewhat immediate family).