James Rebanks

James Rebanks is a shepherd and author from the Lake District, where his family has farmed for generations. The Shepherd’s Life follows the agricultural year through lambing, haymaking, autumn sales, and winter work, while also tracing Rebanks's relationship with his family, education, and inherited landscape. Published in Britain by Allen Lane, the memoir brought the routines and knowledge of upland farming to a broad readership and was shortlisted for the Wainwright Prize. Rebanks later wrote English Pastoral, continuing his account of rural work while examining changes in modern farming. Alongside writing, he has worked with UNESCO on approaches to sustainable tourism and remains involved in managing his family's farm.