Woodston cover art

Woodston

The Biography of an English Farm

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Woodston

By: John Lewis-Stempel
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

In the beginning was the earth....

From the Paleozoic volcanoes that stained its soil, to the Saxons who occupied it, to the Tudors who traded its wool, to the Land Girls of wartime, John Lewis-Stempel charts a sweeping, lyrical history of Woodston: the quintessential English farm.

With his combined skills of farmer and historian, Lewis-Stempel digs deep into written records, the memories of relatives and the landscape itself to celebrate the farmland his family have been bound to for millennia. Through Woodston's life, we feel the joyful arrival of oxen ploughing; we see pigs rootling in the medieval apple orchard; and take in the sharp, drowsy fragrance of hops on Edwardian air. He draws upon his wealth of historical knowledge and his innate sense of place to create a passionate, fascinating biography of farming in England.

Woodston not only reminds us of the rural riches buried beneath our feet but of our shared roots that tie us to the land.

©2021 John Lewis-Stempel (P)2021 Penguin Audio Animals Biological Sciences Europe Outdoors & Nature Science Travel Writing & Commentary Western Europe

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All stars
Most relevant  
Another beautifully crafted book, this time blending the historical, factual and personal experiences of Woodston farm. Again, I had to remind myself that Leighton Pugh is not John Lewis-Stemple, a rare occurrence in an audio book. Any fan of Lewis-Stemple will appreciate this insightful account.

Another winning combination

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Beautifully read, fascinating in its details. I appreciated the blend of lightly worn scholarship with practical experience. The epic history of a place and evolution of a way of life is a story of productive and destructive progress.

There are some incorrect statements. Christianity did not immediately bring an end to slavery. That needed the Norman conquest centuries later. On the other hand there are details that spring from profound knowledge, such as his revelation comparing a photograph with a tractor.

Every MP should read this and every good buyer in grocery chains and everyone interested in life.

Thoughtful eulogy

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This was a delightful piece of writing, taking you on a journey of time on English farm. The narration was very good, fitting the book perfectly. it is also food for thought into the future of farming.

Recommended

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The author charts the history of a Worcestershire farm from Stone Age to today. His own fascination with techniques used by those who worked the land is matched by his formidable research into farming and husbandry over the centuries in England. The account is interweaved with poetry and observations of landscapes and people for which Lewis-Stempel is loved by his readers in Country Life. But this is not a text book, it is a beautiful love letter written and dedicated to those who have tilled and kept our farmland. The narrator captures Lewis-Stempel’s enthusiasm brilliantly and the pace and cadence makes this a true companion in the car or headphones.

Buy it and love it as I did. Five stars!

Essential reading for anyone connected to farming

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Really enjoyed this book. Lots of interesting facts on farming and land use. From a farming family it brought back lots of interesting facts my dad had told me of a bygone time.
I’ve found all the authors books to be a superb read.

Old memories

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John Lewis-Stempel has long been one of the foremost authors the deal sympathetically with the countryside. In this book John looks at the history of farming and of course the history of farmers. Probably his best work certainly vying with "The Wood", he covers history, natural history, biology, horticulture arboriculture and that which makes us human.

A magnificent read.

Possibly THE best book on farming, ever

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Woodston is rather different to JLS’s earlier books. Where Meadowland and The Wood are diary-like, Woodston has is a faux history. This would be fine, but there are errors in his facts - e.g. on Neolithic tools, settlements, and more.

There are interesting parts that delve into literature. I enjoyed those, as I did in his other books. The language of the book is much less even than his other books, in places it borders on verbose and clunky. That said, there are some beautiful passages as good as anything he’s written before.

There are opinions here on farming that will divide. There are also attacks on vegetarians and vegans, which seem out of the place and border on the absurd. No; they are absurd.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but was far from the standard of his other books. I get the sense he needed to write this to get things off his chest, but it was not enjoyable even if I agreed with much of it.

Not his best…

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