Will I love The Shepherd's Life?

I spent the 2024-25 academic year in Sheffield, England, conducting my sabbatical research. It was my third year living there, but my wife’s first, and I was thrilled to share a place completely new to her. At the top of my list was showing her the Peak District. She loved our hikes through its rolling hills, but something I never expected happened: she fell in love with the sheep. Every ram, ewe, and lamb we passed delighted her, and when we later hiked in the Lake District, her affection only grew. Watching her joy made me fall even more in… show more.

James Rebanks was born in England’s Lake District into a family who valued the hard work and ancient traditions of shepherding in the high hills. Later, he winds up at Oxford, seemingly headed for a life of financial success in the city, and realizes that while the world at large may value such success, he values the quiet, steady, solitary shepherd’s life and chooses that instead. He beautifully depicts a life steeped in tradition, honoring the seasons, and filled with characters. I loved learning about a slice of life that I knew little about.

Written in the no-nonsense but poetic voice of a working shepherd (with a degree from Oxford) this is a love letter to a way of life unique to the Lake District – the spectacular region of lakes, valleys, and mountains in the north of England, much beloved of hikers, but also home to ancient farming communities. The author describes his working life and makes sure his readers know how tough it can be, particularly in the colder, wetter months that seem to make up most of the year, but also that the annual cycle – ensuring the survival of his… show more.