Publisher's Synopsis
Wondering what life might be like married to a farmer?Is a farmer a good catch?How do you find a great farmer to marry?Does the prospect of marrying a farmer scare you?How do farmers today compare to their predecessors?Lorna Sixsmith's book 'Would You Marry A Farmer?' is a witty guide for anyone considering marrying or already married to a farmer. From a comparison of the farmer today to his predecessor, with complete instructions on how to find a good farmer, what you need to know when you start dating your farmer to tips on how to stay married to that farmer, it provides a realistic yet very funny look at life in farming. The first section explores how the mid-twentieth century Irish farmer was represented in literature, newspapers and political debates. Were they a good catch? You'll find it was a contentious issue with the bachelor farmer being of much concern within society. The other four sections provide a realistic look at rural life, providing advice on finding the right farmer to marry, tips for successful dating, and as you'll be marrying his family as well as him, how to do it all with aplomb. Described as a 'beautifully produced book' by Ryan Tubridy, and a 'rich story' by Rich Rennicks of A Trip To Ireland, this is more than a hilarious look at Irish farming.Dee Sewell of Greenside Up described it as 'capturing so much of what makes Ireland unique in a no-nonsense, honest to goodness fashion. If you're looking to marry into the farming way of life or are just plain curious about what farmers do all day, you'll be under no romantic illusions about this hard-working way of life once you've read the book.'Des Kenny of Kenny's Bookshop said "Whereas [the book] is couched in apparently satiric terms, it does give an insight into the realities of a woman's life in rural Ireland in a significant and meaningful way and can equally be categorised under the headings of Sociology, Rural Studies and Gender Studies".Commissioner: "It is an overview and portrayal of Irish farm life in historic times and in the current day, written from the perspective of a farmer's spouse. While couched in a humorous and accessible tone, it contains no small amount of research and scholarship and conveys serious information and insight into the realities and challenges of farming life. This book is pioneering and casts new light on the life of spouses of farmers. While presented in a light-hearted and accessible manner, the information contained therein is serious, relevant and thought-provoking, and constitutes a worthwhile piece of sociology.
