Round About a Great Estate
Richard Jefferies
Read by Steven Seitel
John Richard Jefferies (1848-1887) wrote of country life, natural history, and agricultural practice at a time when the industrial revolution was bringing great change to long-settled patterns of English life. In this book, a work of fiction, he aims to tell us something of "the former state of things before it passes away entirely.”
This is a gentle book with a keen eye for the beauty of the countryside, the uncultivated bonuses of plants and flowers; the antics of the birds and wild animals; and the agricultural practices, superstitions, and great generosity of the simple country folk who live on or about the Great Estate of the title. - Summary by Steven Seitel (3 hr 36 min)
Chapters
00 Preface | 2:52 | Read by Steven Seitel |
01 Okebourne Chase. Felling Trees. | 20:59 | Read by Steven Seitel |
02 Cicely. The Brook. | 23:07 | Read by Steven Seitel |
03 A Pack of Stoats. Birds. | 20:50 | Read by Steven Seitel |
04 Hamlet Folk. | 22:53 | Read by Steven Seitel |
05 Wind-Anemones. The Fishpond. | 22:58 | Read by Steven Seitel |
06 A Farmer of the Olden Times. | 23:19 | Read by Steven Seitel |
07 The Cuckoo-Fields. | 19:46 | Read by Steven Seitel |
08 Cicely's Diary. Hilary's Talk. | 19:53 | Read by Steven Seitel |
09 The Water-Mill. Field Names. | 20:49 | Read by Steven Seitel |
10 The Coombe-Bottom. Conclusion. | 18:58 | Read by Steven Seitel |
Reviews
peaceful
Phxjennifer
There's no plot here, it's just a relaxing vacation in the country at the end of the 19th century. The author truly has a gift for vivid nature description without sentimentality. Climb into your hammock, sip some lemonade, and enjoy.