The Magic Apple Tree - Hardcover

Hill, Susan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1902421256 ISBN 13: 9781902421254

Publisher: Long Barn Books Ltd, 2007

Synopsis

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About this title

Review:

This is a marvellous book. After reading many books which celebrate an 'escape' from England to sunny climes, here is the perfect antidote. Susan Hill describes life in a country village in England in the most marvellousr, warm prose - she occasionally veers a little towards sentimentality, but whatever sweetness the book contains is nicely countered by a true eye for detail. This is a comforting, reassuring read which nevertheless has the overall effect of challenging the reader to think about his own life, what he is doing with it, and whether that is how he wants it to be. Highly recommended. --Amazon

This book (and one by Mary Taylor Simetti) is my default reading, when more sophisticated pleasures can't entice me. Beautifully written, this book is almost an elegy to English country living. It provides me - a Californian - with the vicarious feeling that I too am living in Moon Cottage in Barley. Hill provides recipes, observations, descriptions of people, surroundings, and customs of her village, perhaps as bulwark against the encroaching tide of modern life. She finds much to value in living in the "country" and there is much to value in this beautiful book. --Amazon

Susan Hill's study of the British countryside and the seasons of the year is wonderful. Reading it for the first time in the middle of a long winter a few years ago made me feel lucky to live here - despite the dark nights and the cold. Autumn has always been my favourite time of the year but the authors description of her life in the countryside made me look afresh at all seasons and gave me the urge to get out and about to enjoy. Susan Hill's descriptions of the countryside and country people are strongly reminiscent of Hardy and this book was an introduction to a wonderful author. If you like this you must try her other work - which is generally deeper and darker but just as beautiful. Comment | --Amazon

Synopsis:

After marrying the eminent Shakespeare scholar, Stanley Wells, and with the arrival of their daughter Jessica, Susan and her family left town life to take up residence in the fen country, at 'Moon Cottage'. THE MAGIC APPLE TREE is a record of one year in the life of the family and the rural scene they became absorbed by. Susan Hill has the ability to express atmosphere and natural beauty and has an unflinching acceptance of life's cruelties and terrors. She enjoys keeping hens but can't help admiring the machismo of the hunting fox. She reveres living creatures but 'sits on the fence' concerning the fox-hunting debate. She agonises over eating delicate spring lamb but frankly admits that she'll relish lamb chops later on. Sensitive and spiritual, but never sentimental, she gives the reader her subtle response to the country scene and its inhabitants, and also allows us to inspect her vegetable patch and her larder. She gets tremendous satisfaction out of raising her own veg - she's positively lyrical about celeriac - but is half-hearted about growing flowers unless they 'earn their living'.

She's fond of making chutney, pickled plums, damson cheese and eldflower ice-cream, but draws the line at wine-making. These details, gardening tips and old-fashioned country recipes are fascinating.

About this edition

• Publisher: Long Barn Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1902421256
• ISBN 13: 9781902421254
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256
• Illustrator: Lawrence John