Wild Words Newsletter
Get monthly recommendations on all the latest nature writing, heritage and conservation related reads available at Sherlock & Pages
Embark on a captivating journey through the French countryside with this indie bestseller that's sure to enchant fans of Peter Mayle. Join 'Britain's finest living nature writer' as he takes a leap of faith, purchasing an old farmhouse in the heart of rural France—a delightful slice of sun-drenched escapism from the perennial Sunday Times bestseller.
Picture the Charente: terracotta-tiled roofs, pristine white walls, and windows shuttered against the blazing sun. A baker makes his rounds in a weathered white van, laden with freshly-baked baguettes, while a cat slinks past a Romanesque church, its bells echoing across miles of breathtaking landscape.
After years of farming in England, John Lewis-Stempel longed to return to a world where turtle doves coo and nightingales serenade, reminiscent of his childhood. Yearning for self-sufficiency, he dreamt of crafting his own wine and unravelling the mysteries of truffle cultivation. Thus, the Lewis-Stempels embarked on their new adventure as peasant farmers, settling into a honey-hued limestone house adorned with vivid blue shutters.
Over the course of a year, Lewis-Stempel found himself enamoured with the French countryside—from wild boars ambling past the kitchen window to the ethereal glow of fireflies and citronella candles flickering in the evening garden. What began as a practical endeavour swiftly blossomed into a love affair: mastering the art of biting into a morning baguette, savouring two-hour lunches, and embracing the essence of 'La Vie'—the good life, as the French so aptly put it.
Book ISBN: | 9780857526458 |
Book Weight: | 322g |
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’