‘I love this book for so many reasons, because of so many people: because of Ted Hughes’s poems, because of the photographs of James Ravilious, because it’s about the place where Clare and I live, where our family grew up, and which helped me grow my stories, War Horse, Private Peaceful and many others, and because it’s a living story still being told everyday.’ Michael Morpurgo
Originally published in 1979, All Around the Year is the diary of Parsonage Farm in Iddesleigh, North Devon, where life was remote and had remained unchanged for centuries.
The book reveals the daily hardships and rewards of such a life, and includes poems by Ted Hughes, Michael Morpurgo’s friend and neighbour, inspired by events on Hughes’ own farm. Alongside Morpurgo’s diary and Hughes’ poetry, the book is illustrated with the beautiful photographs of James Ravilious, who spent most of his life documenting rural life in Devon and worked closely with Michael to create the first edition of this book.
With the support of Beaford Archive, the Ted Hughes Estate and the Ravilious family, our new edition is published to mark the 50th anniversary of Farms for City Children and to celebrate a remarkable artistic collaboration between Morpurgo, Hughes and Ravilious.
All Around the Year also includes a new introduction by the prize-winning author Katherine Rundell.
