James Rebanks on the Shepherd's Life

In 'Wild Souls', Emma Marris delves into profound questions about animal welfare and conservation science, challenging readers to rethink their understanding of wildness and our place in nature. The book explores ethical tensions through case studies, from feeding polar bears to managing invasive species, prompting a nuanced discussion on our responsibilities towards the non-human world.

English Pastoral is a narrative that spans three generations of James Rebanks' family, detailing the transformation of rural landscapes and the decline of traditional farming practices. The book is divided into three sections: Nostalgia, Progress, and Utopia, reflecting Rebanks' journey from learning the old ways from his grandfather to navigating the industrial changes in farming and eventually adopting regenerative farming methods. It is a story of love, pride, and the struggle to restore the natural balance of the land, offering a hopeful vision for the future of farming and the environment.

The book chronicles James Rebanks' life as a shepherd in the Lake District of Northern England. It follows a full year of his work, from the communal efforts of gathering the flock in summer to the challenging lambing season in spring and the harsh conditions of winter. Rebanks reflects on his family's generations-long commitment to sheep farming, his own education at Oxford, and his return to the traditional ways of his ancestors. The narrative is intertwined with the history of Lake District shepherds, the author's coming of age, and his critiques of modern industrial agriculture and the value of traditional knowledge and community[1][3][5].