Sir Roy Strong and his wife, the designer Julia Trevelyan Oman, have lived in the country for nearly thirty years. In 1987 he was asked to write an occasional column reflecting this quintessentially English way of life for the prestigious magazine A Country Life. This charming book brings these popular pieces together, portraying the passing of the seasons in what the author describes as his ‘beloved adopted county’ of Herefordshire.

A Country Life is a wide-ranging kaleidoscope of memories and observations, embracing the countryside, gardens, cooking, and remembrances of things both long gone and only yesterday. The author writes lyrically of the arrival of the bright green tarragon shoots in spring; of the delights of eating al fresco; of making sorbets from blackberry and quince; of the russet beech hedges in winter and the sweet nostalgia that comes from unpacking Christmas decorations.

The keynote of A Country Life is delight – a portrait of life in the English countryside, which seems as old as time itself.

Nice book with short chapters. Calming and peaceful. And a bonus: Finnish apple steamer was mentioned at least twice :D

Sending to Kirjakko next.

Thank you for the book. I must put here some pictures which show the other side of country life. As a parttime dogsitter I have to say that there are dangers you would never even think of...

Pic: After Kira-storm in 2017. 40 trees fell in just a few minutes and we were without electricity for three days.

In their English Country House they have a Finnish apple steamer... Funny how one finds joy in small things like that.

Spring is the time to take out Easter egg decorations.

I just LOVE Tati's film Mon Oncle! And the Osborne House on Isle of Wight.

This man has no real problems if he becomes agitated over a red tulip in a bed of white and orange ones.

Having a birthday cake for a dog or a cat is not rare at all, everybody does it. But having a cake decorated with sperm to celabrate 30 years of dog breeding is probably a bit unusual. Last year we attended such a party as we were vetting those dogs.
I'm glad their cats have elevenses. My brother's Finnish godmother, who has lived in London over 45 years, always made her husband elevenses, but I haven't heard anybody else use that term. When visiting them I often got up just in time for elevenses as they had breakfasted already at eight and were having some tea and toast at eleven.

Finished half way through. It had been repetitive already a while and although I do enjoy a beautiful garden when I see one, flower names mean almost nothing to me, not even in Finnish. Will put this into circulation soon.

The book was left in the exchange shelf of the Library of Kevara in this lovely, sunny and warm autumn's day. Enjoy!