Publications / Complete Catalogue / Diary of a Farmer's Wife 1796 - 1797
IN 1796 A YOUNG farmer’s wife, Anne Hughes, decided to start a diary to ‘set down all that I do every day’ and so, for 13 months we learn of Anne’s day to day life, of the ‘butter maken’ that sometimes ‘was longe time cummin,’ of collecting honey, ‘pudden making,’ ‘making merrie’ and of all the social activities and hard work that was then the lot of a farmer’s wife. This is an extraordinary document written by a young woman who lives and breathes in its pages. It describes a domestic, endlessly busy and clever, but also a loving and tender Anne Hughes who devoted her life to her husband and their farm. With recipes for ‘Pansy Wine,’ ‘Maye Daye cakes’ and how to bake a hare and with stories of love and scandal, you will be touched by her memoirs and ‘laff so hartilie’ at her stories, language and experiences. It is truly a book for all!
You will adore the quirky, charming, hilarious and educational insight into the life of Anne Hughes and 18th century lifestyle as a whole. Do not be fooled into thinking that the audience of this book will be concentrated into a small sector of folk, specifically interested in cooking and historical biography. I challenge anyone to open and read just a few pages of this book and not be compelled to finish it off - possibly without putting it down! Paperback 160 pages
Reviews
Add ReviewRosamund Young - Oct 10 2009 8:45PM
This is a truly magical gem of a book: we get to know, to love and to admire Anne Hughes in a way that would have been impossible without the chance discovery of her diary which she never envisaged anyone reading_probably_ Every house should own a copy of this and every relative and friend would love to receive one as a present.
Country & Border Life Magazine - Jan 5 2010 10:53AM
Anne Hughes lived on a Herefordshire farm in the 18th century and kept a diary of her domestic life. This remained unread until the 1930's, when it was serialised in Farmer's Weekly. Now a book, it is an engaging read, providing an insight into rural life at that time. It is also filled with recipes and romance. Written in Old English, Anne's life unfolds with all the charm of period drama yet the warmth of true life. From the opening sentence, it's hard not to smile at each turn of the page as you come to see Anne as a friend.
