Product Description

This is a romantic, utterly alluring leap into Spanish sunshine, remote mountains and rural life. Jason Webster had lived in Spain for several years before he and his partner, the flamenco dancer Salud, decided to buy a deserted farmhouse clinging to the side of a steep valley in the eastern province of Castellon, near the sacred peak of Penaglosa. With help from local farmers - and from a twelfth century Moorish book on gardening - Jason set about creating his dream. He had never farmed before, and knew nothing of plants, but slowly he and Salud cleared the land, planted and harvested their olives, raised the healing herbs they learned about from local people, set up bee-hives and nurtured precious, expensive truffles, the black gold of the region. And beyond all this they started to fulfil another vision, bringing the native trees back to the cliffs ravaged by fire.At the same time they became drawn into the life of the valley: this is a book rich with characters as well as plants. It follows the people of the village from the winter rains to baking summer heat, from the flowering of the almond trees in spring to the hilarious, fiery festivals and ancient pilgrimages, and tells the history of the region through folk-songs and stories of the Cathar and Templar past. Jason and Salud lived through storms that destroyed their roof and fire that swept across their valley, but as the year passed and his farm flourished Jason found himself increasingly in tune with the ancient, mystical life of the sierra, a place that will haunt your imagination and raise your spirits, as it did his.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9937 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 368 pages

Review
"Webster satisfies both dreamers and (re)doers, creating a book that is entertaining, accessible and sincere".
--Guardian Unlimited

Review
'He has a natural empathy for people and their culture ... Webster makes it sound utterly seductive'

Review
"Discursive and appealingly conversational... an inspiring account."

Customer Reviews

Wonderful!!
From the moment I began to read this beautifully written book, it became my secret friend, drawing me into a world that I was dying to see. I put my work aside for two days and did nothing but read. This story sits apart from so many other books about "a new life somewhere" or "doing up a house abroad" for it is not just about that. Evocatively written and well researched, it weaves the day to day experiences of the author and his gentle partner together with folklore, plant lore, local characters, and a perfect dollop of history. Each morsel of information is fascinating and the little fairy tales give further insight into a rapidly disappearing part of rural Spain with its moorish and cathar associations. Reading this marvellous account gave me a deeper understanding of mountain life in Spain and also made me frightened for its future looming ominiously. What will happen in the years to come? If there was ever a book that begged a sequel, then this one is it.

Another Hit
Whether it is writing about the intricacies of flamenco or the complexities of the Spanish Civil War, Webster consistently gets under the skin of modern day Spain better than any other current writer. His new book - with its lure of escapism and learned examination of local folklore and traditions - is no exception. Reading this book is a perfect way to beat the credit crunch blues!

One of the best books I have ever read
Jason Webster has produced a fantastic book - a mixture of an insight into the "mas" culture of rural Valencian countryside; including old traditional tales and a sensory delight. Not to be read quickly, this is a book to savour and probably re-read to enrich the soul. A must for anyone who loves Spain, but also who loves excellent quality writing.