Before we had Jan Karon there was Miss Read and her "English Country Novels!"


This snippet is from pages 83 - 84 of Miss Read's Farther Afield, set in rural England and in the Mediterranean around 1970 or so.

Miss Read's friend Amy is driving her back from Amy's house in the village of Bent to Miss Read's home in Fair Acre on a really fine summer afternoon, right after a long, slow, overnight English summer rain.


"The next afternoon we drove from Bent to Fairacre.

"The rain had ceased leaving everything fresh and fragrant.

"Everywhere we looked there was rejoicing in the sunshine after the rain, and my spirits rose accordingly.

"As Fairacre drew nearer I grew happier and happier, until I broke into singing.

"Amy began to laugh. What an incorrigible home - bird you are, you remind me of Timmy Willie.

"I inquired When he was asked what he did when it rained in the country?

"[Q]uoted Amy, dodging a fat thrush in the road, When it rains, I sit in my little sandy burrow and shell corn and seeds...

" I finished for her And when the sun comes out again, you should see my garden and the flowers -- roses and pinks and pansies...

"[S]aid Amy I'm sorry for children who aren't brought up on Beatrix Potter. .. Look! There's St. Patrick's spire ahead. You'll be back in your burrow in two shakes ..." :)