The Generous Earth [Paperback]

Philip Oyler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

Philip Oyler, farmer and traveler, moved to France after the First World War. He settled in a district between the small market towns of St. Céré and Sarlat—a region of the Dordogne Valley completely untouched by commerce or tourism. There, he found a way of life that had hardly changed for centuries. Rooted in tradition, it was a world of true rural husbandry. Beautiful and unspoiled, the region was rich in real wealth—crops, vineyards, livestock, timber, fruit, fish, and game. Oyler’s marvelous account of a rural life now vanished will be enjoyed by anyone who loves France, farming, food and wine, or sheer good living.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Philip Oyler, farmer and traveler, moved to France after the First World War. He settled in a district between the small market towns of St. Céré and Sarlat—a region of the Dordogne Valley completely untouched by commerce or tourism. There, he found a way of life that had hardly changed for centuries. Rooted in tradition, it was a world of true rural husbandry. Beautiful and unspoiled, the region was rich in real wealth—crops, vineyards, livestock, timber, fruit, fish, and game. Oyler’s marvelous account of a rural life now vanished will be enjoyed by anyone who loves France, farming, food and wine, or sheer good living.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Pallas Athene (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873429665
• ISBN-13: 978-1873429662
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #965,914 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Solo Travel

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Generous Wisdom of "The Generous Earth", March 14, 2003

By 

Gerald J. Maburn (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Generous Earth (Paperback)

Phillip Oyler's "The Generous Earth" is a lyrical poem in prose to a world we have lost. Written in 1950 about his discovery and settlement into the river valley of the Dordogne in France after the First World War, Oyler's skill at observation and the ability to describe with beautiful language what he has seen and felt carry you back to that time and place. Moreover, it makes those of us not born to the land, and especially not to the mechanized agribusiness operations we see here in the States, understand the true meaning of being one with the earth and its cycles of life. The peasants of the Dordogne (the term is used with pride by them and the author)understand the rhythms of nature, the land and its people. Oyler's narrative captures their wisdom,joy and pride in their hard work as they go about the daily routines that define their lives. He rejoices in their care and support for each other; how they share their labors communally for individual benefit; and the way in which they celebrate the passages of life. He comiserates with the elders who see the seductive forces pulling their children away from the farms and the impact of mechanization on the land. Yet it is the book's descriptions of food, conviviality and appreciation of nature that preserves an image of this life gone by and help the modern reader to understand a lifestyle that had more to offer than mere existence. In the end, this book passes along wisdom that took generations to discover. We need it now more than ever.