The Farm
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
When Richard Benson was growing up he felt like 'the village idiot with O'levels' - glowing school reports aren't much help when you're trying to help a sow give birth, or drive a power harrow in a straight line without getting half the hedgerow stuck in the tines. He left Yorkshire to work as a journalist in London, but returned when his dad called with the news that they were going to have to sell the family farm, and, in so doing, leave the home and livelihood that the Bensons had worked for generations. This is not only a moving personal account, but also one that reflects a profound change in rural life.
About the Author
Richard Benson is a former editor of The Face and has written for many newspapers and magazines in the UK. The Farm is his first book.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
I give a false name and address when I sign for the keys. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I give a false name and address when I sign for the keys. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book, my sister loved this book and then my best friend loved this book. We all live in Yorkshire, none of us can afford to live in the countryside we grew up in and we know several stressed-out farmers. This is a really touching story with two themes: first, how a child of a farming family tries to work out where he fits in when he lacks farming skills, and second, how changes in the rural economy affect the people who have made their living there for many years.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book and finished it within 2 days. Despite having no farming background myself I identified with the characters and it evoked my emotions making me laugh, cry and most importantly - think. It is a valuable insight into the way of life for many people in Britain over the last few decades. It successfully manages to present both sides of the arguments in favour of modernisation and progression as opposed to retaining a centuries old way of life with profits going to Hard-working British people rather than large companies. As a vegan, pro-organic, anti-GM, "afraid of the power of large supermarkets" consumer it helped my understanding greatly. When the European arguments about CAP etc continue I will be able to listen with a broader knowledge. One of the books I hope Tony has been given for bed-time reading!
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The author grew up on a small farm in the Yorkshire Wolds then moved away to become a journalist in London. But his family and their farm still exert a powerful pull on his emotions, especially since changing agricultural practices and globalization resulted in such upheaval that they had to sell their home and change their lives.
My childhood was spent in a farming area and I lived in Yorkshire for several years and I thought this book was 'spot on'. The countryside is vividly described and the wry Yorkshire characters' economic way with words only heightens the emotional impact. I loved the details such as his mum Pauline's idea of the 'swearing zone' whereby no-one was allowed to swear in the house but the further away you got the more the rules were relaxed.
A warm-hearted and delightful read.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Country Boy
This is the story of a boy born in the country, living on a farm in a village in the Yorkshire Wolds, he lives with his mother, father and brother, and we go through his happy... Read more
Published 3 months ago by walker
Wonderful story!!
I think this is one of the best stories I have read in a long time. I think it explains really well the struggle people who work on the land have to endure and the choices they... Read more
Published 4 months ago by S. Butterworth
Nah then ...
They even found a Performer from Yorkshire - lad by name o' Richard Stacey - does a reet good job too...
Published 11 months ago by EllaGuru
Book Club choice
I had to read this for the reading group I've recently joined.
Despite the author's warm, easy writing style, it took me a while to get into this memoir of life growing up on... Read more
Despite the author's warm, easy writing style, it took me a while to get into this memoir of life growing up on... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Linreviews
Oo-aar! 3 star!
Some bloke grows up on a farm, doesn't really fit in, leaves home and buggers off to London, bottom falls out of farming industry, family lose farm, he returns home to help and in... Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by H. Morris
A Modern Tragedy
A Richard and Judy pick for 2006, this superb little book tells the story of what has happened to British farming in the period when we've all had our heads in the supermarket... Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2009 by Eileen Shaw
Disappointing
I read all the reviews on this book and as a result was very excited at the prospect of reading it. I realise it's obviously a big hit with most people and so I'm the one who is... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2008 by Bookworm
What a great book
I really enjoyed this book as i grew up not far from the village where it was based on. I recognised just about all the places and with coming from a farming background myself i... Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2008 by Mrs. A. E. Stinson
Farm life
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I grew attached to the characters and loved hearing about their way of life. Read more
Published on 1 May 2007 by kehs
Farm owner reviews the book
Gripping in some parts. Asks questions, but fails to answer a fundamental question. What business would solely rely on the land? There was no indication of diversity i. Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2006 by denise sykes
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