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Up with the Lark
- My Life on the Land
- Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
- Length: 7 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
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Summary
Joan Bomford, BBC Countryfile's Farming Hero of 2015, has lived all her life in the lush, rolling countryside of the Vale of Evesham, where cows graze the water meadows of the River Avon and modern life seems far away.
Farming is in Joan's blood. Generations of her family have worked the land, and in Up with the Lark, Joan tells us with warmth, wit and great insight what it's been like to live through an era of such enormous change. Now aged 83, Farmer Joan is still active, making hay, feeding the farm's beef cattle, and running the riding school that she dreamed of as a child.
A natural storyteller, Joan Bomford shares many heartwarming and magical events - like the elephant who came to stay and the gentle tricks played on the evacuees who refused to eat her mother's rabbit stew. Yet her life has not been one long rural idyll - Joan watched helplessly as her cattle were swept away in a sudden flood and witnessed the night sky alight with the German bombing of Coventry - and latterly she's had to deal with family tragedy.
Up with the Lark is a portrait of a forgotten era and a celebration of the qualities that make Joan Bomford an inspiration to us all: her passion for the land, a love of family and a determination to make the most of life.
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What listeners say about Up with the Lark
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Sean P Hutley
- 25-05-16
Inspiring read
My favourite audible book so far. It was a delight to listen to and the narrator was perfect for the part, so well read.It was inspiring to hear of Joan's life as a farmer and although not an easy one a truly happy life. Cannot praise this book enough it is like listening to the tales of your favourite grandma, a warm and friendly experience.
2 people found this helpful
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- Alistair B.
- 04-05-16
delightful story of a remarkable woman.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If you are interested in English farming, survival of the farmers over the years and a glimpse back in to how life used to be more simple then this is the book for you.
Any additional comments?
loved every moment of this book, i actually looked forward to the commute just so i could put my headphones back on. It was a charming story mixed with the struggles in the past. Life as it used to be when times were simple, low tech and when people had better values. . A moving story and a remarkable woman.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kit Sinclair
- 12-02-22
a good listen
I learned a lot about farming in southern England post war and thereafter and enjoyed the read
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- Joy
- 09-02-22
beautiful
a delightful account of a hard working lady who shares the joys of farming
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- Anonymous User
- 09-06-21
Beautiful in every way
If you love the outdoors and rural life this beautiful book will transport you there...when steam and horses worked the land...morals were paramount and love meant for life. An inspirational tale of an outstanding womans life . I feel blessed to have been allowed to learn about.
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- Anonymous User
- 29-04-21
exceptional
A heartwarming story of the life of a farm girl who followed her heart and stayed true to herself, an amazing journey through time. The best book I've read in a long time!
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- Anonymous User
- 15-03-21
Lovely book
Such a good listen, she is an inspiration. A must read especially if your into farming
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- Anonymous User
- 07-03-21
Inspiring story
Absolutely loved up with the lark from beginning to end The ups and the downs of farming life
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- Anonymous User
- 19-12-20
great read
I love this book and love the feck nothing is sugar coated, it's a must read or listen to in my case
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- Maxine
- 09-10-20
absolutely wonderful story.
I loved this book from start to finish, there were many happy and sad tears shed, not saying what about or will spoil the story for you. If you want something heart warming reflecting the live a farmer has for their jobs this is it.
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- Sara
- 12-01-16
Up With A Love For Life
I really enjoyed this gentle and loving memoir. Joan Bomford clearly loves life, her family, the land, farming and hard work. She is a capable strong woman and beautifully conveys her story to the reader. Bomford captures the joy of tinkering with machinery and the pleasure of a difficult job well done.
I found it refreshing to hear about a life where families stuck together and were kind to each other--even though they, at times, saw things differently. It seems as though people often write memoirs to express anger or how unhappy their lives have been, how mistreated they were. This book is a breath of fresh air.
The author presented a window into farm life in rural England from her earliest memories in the 1930s through her 83+ years. The stories of coping during WWII--Joan being 14 when the war ended--were evocative of the general can-do mentality of the family and the farming community around them.
Bomford is a plain talker, funny, engaging and touching in the way she portrays the people she has encountered in her long full life. How great it was as a reader to meet a person who knows who she is and is happy being just what she is. A positive listening experience.
33 people found this helpful