Listen free for 30 days
The Sheep Stell
People who bought this also bought...
-
The Sty's the Limit
- When Middle Age Gets Mucky
- By: Simon Dawson
- Narrated by: Ben Allen
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following a drunken misunderstanding, Simon Dawson gave up his job in the city, moved to the wilds of Exmoor and became an accidental self-sufficient smallholder with an array of animals. But that was years ago now. Following up on his first book, Pigs in Clover, this is the story of what happens when he suddenly realises that his life is changing all over again. He's not quite the spring chicken that he used to be: he is, horror of horrors, getting older.
-
-
Excellent 2nd book
- By TJ on 15-05-17
-
Pigs in Clover
- Or How I Accidentally Fell in Love with the Good Life
- By: Simon Dawson
- Narrated by: Ben Allen
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the true story of a Londoner who gives up his job as an estate agent in the city, moves to the wilds of Exmoor, starts a smallholding and becomes self-sufficient, with a few bumps along the way. Simon's journey from urbanite to self-sufficient smallholder is brimming with incidents - some funny and some tragic - leading him to question Mother Nature, himself, the food he eats and his role in it all.
-
-
The Good Life?
- By Mr William Dewar on 15-01-16
-
Just off for a Walk
- By: Stephen Reynolds
- Narrated by: Geoff Cummings
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What happens when a 37-year-old office worker, who exercises marginally less than the average cheese sandwich, decides to walk 630 miles of challenging coastline in one go? Will he go on an epic voyage of self-discovery...or just get really knackered? Find out the answers to these important questions, and many more, by joining him on a grand adventure that takes in 26,719 steps, 921 stiles, 302 bridges, 91,000 feet of climbing and descending, one seal, zero basking sharks, lots of chips and one overweight, oversize backpack.
-
-
more cheerful than the salt path
- By Mr Chops on 26-05-19
-
Animal Farm
- By: George Orwell
- Narrated by: Simon Callow
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Animal Farm is George Orwell's great socio-political allegory set in a farmyard where the animals decide to seize the farmer's land and create a co-operative that reaps the benefits of their combined labours. However, as with all great political plans, some animals see a bigger share of the rewards than others and the animals start to question their supposed utopia.
-
-
Brilliant classic, superbly read by Simon Callow
- By Anthony on 15-06-14
-
Narrow Margins
- By: Marie Browne
- Narrated by: Lucy Scott
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Narrow Margins is the true story of one family's journey from the financial crash of the Rover car company to an alternative and better lifestyle. Faced with the loss of everything - the house, the cars, and more importantly, their rather lazy and indolent lifestyle - Marie Browne and her family took on the challenge of a whole new way of life. Strapped for cash, the family buy a decrepit 70ft barge called Happy Go Lucky which had been run as a floating hotel.
-
-
Entertaining
- By Anonymous User on 22-07-18
-
The Secret Life of Cows
- By: Rosamund Young
- Narrated by: Rosamund Young
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The rediscovered gem following a farmer's thoughtful and moving observations of her herd and the intelligence of cows. Cows are as varied as people. They can be highly intelligent or slow to understand; vain, considerate, proud, shy or inventive. Although much of a cow's day is spent eating, they always find time for extracurricular activities such as babysitting, playing hide-and-seek, blackberry picking or fighting a tree. This is an affectionate record of a hitherto secret world.
-
-
WI lecture
- By Paul D on 18-06-18
-
The Sty's the Limit
- When Middle Age Gets Mucky
- By: Simon Dawson
- Narrated by: Ben Allen
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following a drunken misunderstanding, Simon Dawson gave up his job in the city, moved to the wilds of Exmoor and became an accidental self-sufficient smallholder with an array of animals. But that was years ago now. Following up on his first book, Pigs in Clover, this is the story of what happens when he suddenly realises that his life is changing all over again. He's not quite the spring chicken that he used to be: he is, horror of horrors, getting older.
-
-
Excellent 2nd book
- By TJ on 15-05-17
-
Pigs in Clover
- Or How I Accidentally Fell in Love with the Good Life
- By: Simon Dawson
- Narrated by: Ben Allen
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the true story of a Londoner who gives up his job as an estate agent in the city, moves to the wilds of Exmoor, starts a smallholding and becomes self-sufficient, with a few bumps along the way. Simon's journey from urbanite to self-sufficient smallholder is brimming with incidents - some funny and some tragic - leading him to question Mother Nature, himself, the food he eats and his role in it all.
-
-
The Good Life?
- By Mr William Dewar on 15-01-16
-
Just off for a Walk
- By: Stephen Reynolds
- Narrated by: Geoff Cummings
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What happens when a 37-year-old office worker, who exercises marginally less than the average cheese sandwich, decides to walk 630 miles of challenging coastline in one go? Will he go on an epic voyage of self-discovery...or just get really knackered? Find out the answers to these important questions, and many more, by joining him on a grand adventure that takes in 26,719 steps, 921 stiles, 302 bridges, 91,000 feet of climbing and descending, one seal, zero basking sharks, lots of chips and one overweight, oversize backpack.
-
-
more cheerful than the salt path
- By Mr Chops on 26-05-19
-
Animal Farm
- By: George Orwell
- Narrated by: Simon Callow
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Animal Farm is George Orwell's great socio-political allegory set in a farmyard where the animals decide to seize the farmer's land and create a co-operative that reaps the benefits of their combined labours. However, as with all great political plans, some animals see a bigger share of the rewards than others and the animals start to question their supposed utopia.
-
-
Brilliant classic, superbly read by Simon Callow
- By Anthony on 15-06-14
-
Narrow Margins
- By: Marie Browne
- Narrated by: Lucy Scott
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Narrow Margins is the true story of one family's journey from the financial crash of the Rover car company to an alternative and better lifestyle. Faced with the loss of everything - the house, the cars, and more importantly, their rather lazy and indolent lifestyle - Marie Browne and her family took on the challenge of a whole new way of life. Strapped for cash, the family buy a decrepit 70ft barge called Happy Go Lucky which had been run as a floating hotel.
-
-
Entertaining
- By Anonymous User on 22-07-18
-
The Secret Life of Cows
- By: Rosamund Young
- Narrated by: Rosamund Young
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The rediscovered gem following a farmer's thoughtful and moving observations of her herd and the intelligence of cows. Cows are as varied as people. They can be highly intelligent or slow to understand; vain, considerate, proud, shy or inventive. Although much of a cow's day is spent eating, they always find time for extracurricular activities such as babysitting, playing hide-and-seek, blackberry picking or fighting a tree. This is an affectionate record of a hitherto secret world.
-
-
WI lecture
- By Paul D on 18-06-18
-
Crow
- From the Life and Songs of the Crow
- By: Ted Hughes
- Narrated by: Ted Hughes
- Length: 1 hr and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his remarkable debut The Hawk in the Rain (1957) to his death in 1998, Ted Hughes was a colossal presence in the English literary landscape. He was also admired as a performer of his own work. Crow is one of his most significant collections, focusing on the central figure of the crow - predatory, mocking and indestructible. Crow is read here by the author in its entirety and with narrative links not included in the published text.
-
-
Masterpiece to Listen to and Read
- By Jessica on 19-03-17
-
Green and Prosperous Land: A Blueprint for Rescuing the British Countryside
- By: Dieter Helm
- Narrated by: Mike Grady
- Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Finally, a practical, realistic plan to rescue, preserve and enhance nature. This is an economist's approach to environmentalism, including a summary of Britain's green assets, a look towards possible futures and an achievable 25-year plan to a green and prosperous world. News about Britain’s wildlife and ecosystems tends to be grim. In Green and Prosperous Land, Dieter Helm, a member of the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and advisor to the government, shares a radical but tangible plan for positive change.
-
-
Profitable Environmentalism!
- By Emma Block on 10-08-19
-
The Great Railway Bazaar
- By: Paul Theroux
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Great Railway Bazaar is Paul Theroux's account of his epic journey by rail through Asia. Filled with evocative names of legendary train routes - the Direct-Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, the Golden Arrow to Kuala Lumpur, the Hikari Super Express to Kyoto, and the Trans-Siberian Express - it describes the many places, cultures, sights and sounds he experienced and the fascinating people he met.
-
-
I was on the train
- By Colin on 05-04-11
-
Horses, Heifers and Hairy Pigs
- The Life of a Yorkshire Vet
- By: Julian Norton
- Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From his childhood love of animals, through his training and first steps in the profession and the pressures and challenges faced by vets, dealing with unexpected exotic pets - and handling excitable humans too - Julian Norton has seen all sides of the veterinary world and writes about it all with humour and affection. Just as happy calving a cow, treating a dehydrated chameleon or tending to the overgrown teeth of a rabbit, his passion for his work shines through in every chapter.
-
-
great story<br />
- By Steven Nigel Ibbotson on 08-02-19
-
The January Man
- A Year of Walking Britain
- By: Christopher Somerville
- Narrated by: Christopher Somerville
- Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In January 2006, a month or two after my father died, I thought I saw him again - a momentary impression of an old man, a little stooped, setting off for a walk in his characteristic fawn corduroys and shabby quilted jacket. After teenage rifts it was walking that brought us closer as father and son, and this ghost of Dad has been walking at my elbow since his death, as I have ruminated on his great love of walking, his prodigious need to do it - and how and why I walk myself.
-
-
Wonderful!
- By Hari on 17-05-17
-
À La Mod
- My So-Called Tranquil Family Life in Rural France
- By: Ian Moore
- Narrated by: Ian Moore
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ian Moore is a stand-up comedian in the UK and a husband, father of three boys, farmhand and chutney-maker in France. He is a mod in both walks of life and most of his time is spent travelling grumpily between the two. Comedian, mod and professional grump Ian Moore has had enough. Tired of being unable to park anywhere near his cramped house in a noisy town he doesn’t like, he hatches a plan to move his wife and young son to a remote corner of the Loire Valley in search of serenity and space.
-
-
tale of ex pat Brit in France with a Parka & pets
- By Jane Viccars -Axelrad on 11-08-14
Summary
'Every animal needs its own territory, and humans are no exception. My plans were clear at an early age. I intended to live somewhere wild and supremely beautiful.... I imagined searching the whole world for a place, high and remote as a sheep stell, quiet as a monastery, challenging and virginal, untouched and unknown.'
Over 20 years ago, well before the current trend for nature writing, Janet White wrote The Sheep Stell, a beautiful and evocative memoir about her life as a shepherdess. Throughout her life Janet has always tended sheep - first as a young woman in the Cheviot Hills, where she was treated with bewilderment by the other shepherds, before leaving Britain to live on an uninhabited island off the coast of New Zealand, with a bonfire as her only means of communication with the mainland and only her flock of 200 sheep for company.
After a brutal attack by an obsessed young man bent on her destruction, she was forced to leave her beloved island and return to England, where she married, became a smallholder in Sussex and finally bought a hill farm in Somerset where she still lives today. Her memoir tells the tale of a woman before her time, with incredible courage and determination, and wanting only peace and solitude in nature and a life with animals.
Underpinning The Sheep Stell is Janet's devotion to the land and her total commitment to combining the principles of conservation with successful farming. Janet White is a trailblazer in both her life and her work. The Sheep Stell is testament to that and homage to the nature we're so rapidly losing touch with. It is a true celebration of the pastoral and pure escapism to a simpler life.
More from the same
What members say
Average customer ratings
Overall
-
-
5 Stars6
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars1
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Performance
-
-
5 Stars5
-
4 Stars5
-
3 Stars0
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Story
-
-
5 Stars6
-
4 Stars3
-
3 Stars1
-
2 Stars0
-
1 Stars0
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 09-04-19
Inspirational
For anyone who thinks that they want to take a leap in the dark and live life to the full in harmony with nature - this is for you!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- eleanor
- 20-07-18
A wonderful read
The author describes her life as shepherd in Wales, the Cheviots, New Zealand, Sussex and Somerset, evoking the sights and sounds and smells so you feel you are there with her. This is not a sentimental idyll, sheep die and have to be skinned and violence invaded her island solitude, but the book is a delight.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Philippa
- 12-03-18
Real life escapism
I enjoyed this audiobook immensely. The writing was superb and I felt like I really was in NZ, Scotland and Surrey with all the animals. There was not a dull moment.