The Hired Lad by Ian Campbell Thomson
Ian Campbell Thomson relives his time as a young farmworker on a Stirlingshire farm after the Second World War. It is a touching coming-of-age tale: we see the author make new friends and romances while finding his own way in a changing world. He describes the passing of age-old country ways, as technology begins to replace traditional farming methods. The book is dedicated to Donald and Blossom, the magnificent pair of Clydesdale horses with which he ploughed, until the sad day when they were replaced by a smart Fordson tractor. Of those early times he writes: 'I often wondered how far I walked in a day behind the plough. My guess was somewhere between 12 and 15 miles...the words "the ploughman homeward wends his weary way" just about sums up the end of the day trudge back to the farm, with darkness closing in and the stable work to be done.' Peopled with memorable characters including the hard-working 'boss', and the wise Aunt Kit, this is a unique tribute, full of humour and nostalgia to a disappearing culture.
Stirling Observer '..guaranteed page-turner.' Scottish Field 'Throughout the pages of this heart-warming account...the reader can clearly detect his lifelong affair with the land.' The Oxford Writer 'The characters of the young Ian, and 'the boss', Aunt Kit and the feisty Peg, are vividly and humorously drawn.' Dumfries & Galloway Standard 'a charming and engaging read.'
Ian Campbell Thomson was brought up in Scotland. he was a bothy-dwelling farmworker for nine years, followed by college on a scholarship and work as a farm manager in Surrey. This led to farming a small holding in Devon and, finally, to Zambia, building a sow unit and growing maize and sunflowers. Now retires, he lives in Oxfordshire.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781841831145 |
| ISBN 10 | 184183114X |
| Title | The Hired Lad |
| Author | Ian Campbell Thomson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Mercat Press |
| Year published | 2007-03-15 |
| Number of pages | 176 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |