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This is a discussion thread for our November 2018 moderator-led read of Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee which will open on or around 1 November 2018



At all times wonderfully evocative and poignant, Cider With Rosie is a charming memoir of Laurie Lee's childhood in a remote Cotswold village, a world that is tangibly real and yet reminiscent of a now distant past.

In this idyllic pastoral setting, unencumbered by the callous father who so quickly abandoned his family responsibilities, Laurie's adoring mother becomes the centre of his world as she struggles to raise a growing family against the backdrop of the Great War.

The sophisticated adult author's retrospective commentary on events is endearingly juxtaposed with that of the innocent, spotty youth, permanently prone to tears and self-absorption.

Rosie's identity from the novel Cider With Rosie was kept secret for 25 years. She was Rose Buckland, Lee's cousin by marriage.


From the Paperback edition.


Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee

One of my all time favourites. I hope to start my latest reread in the next week or so.


Here's to a wonderful discussion.

I love this too and am about to start my reread - looking forward to a great discussion.

I've started rereading now and immediately remembered why it is so beloved - Lee's style is extraordinary, and the way in those opening pages he remembers what it was like to be tiny, not able to see over the long grass and scooped up by his older sisters.

Also, what a fantastic opening line:

I was set down from the carrier鈥檚 cart at the age of three; and there with a sense of bewilderment and terror my life in the village began.

Who else is tempted to read this? Here is another lovely cover, so summery:

Read this sometime back in the 90's . Was loaned to me by someone who loved it, and although I liked it , it didn't appeal to me as much as it did the lender. Maybe their enthusiasm led me to expect more.

I think it makes most sense in the context of the complete trilogy: Cider with Rosie; As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning; A Moment of War

That said, I was entranced by this from the word go.

Thanks, Nigeyb. I think Cider with Rosie is wonderful on its own, but could easily inspire people to go on to the others. I haven't read A Moment of War as yet, but must do so.

Judy wrote: "I haven't read A Moment Of War as yet, but must do so."


One of the most gripping opening chapters of any book I have ever read.

How about that for an enticing statement?

That said, As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning is probably my favourite book of Laurie Lee's autobiographical trilogy...

Cider With Rosie (1959); published in the U.S. as The Edge of Day (1960)
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (1969)
A Moment of War (1991)

By the by, this article provides some interesting insights into Laurie Lee's life and work...





As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (1969)

There's a haunting glimpse of a deserter from the First World War sleeping rough early in the book - makes me wonder how many there were, and if there is a book about those who deserted?

On a lighter note, I laughed out loud at the description of soldiers climbing up the hill in the village during a drought in 1921, to fire their guns at the clouds in hopes of making it rain!

I'm poised to start my second, or is it third, re-read of Cider With Rosie.


Before I get started with the book, and thinking more generally about Laurie Lee, here are a couple of good obituaries...

The Independent's obit...


It includes a bit about A Moment of War...

One of his attractions as a writer is that he admits to making journeys without a cause. His interest in the Republican cause in Spain was minimal and yet his wonderful account of the defeat of the Republican Army in 1937 makes A Moment of War (1991) an unforgettable addition to the remarkable literature which came out of this conflict.

The Economist's obit...


After visiting Slad and popping into the Woolpack Inn for a Rosie special, a Lee pilgrim might nip over to Almu帽ecar, a fishing village and the scene of an episode in his Spanish book, to look at the statue put up in his honour.

This remarkable achievement came from a modest oeuvre: mainly three bits of biography (the third was 鈥淎 Moment of War鈥�, about his experiences in the Spanish civil war, when he fought briefly against the Franco forces) and his poems. Laurie Lee was not contrite about writing slowly (with a 4B pencil). Barbara Cartland and Compton Mackenzie had written hundreds of books which had been forgotten, he said. His few were remembered. Nevertheless, he took his success without fuss. The main gain, he said, was that he could now afford whisky.

I think that's an interesting point about his work rate. Surely better to write one (or a handful) of books that will be remembered beyond the life of the writer, than to churn out hundreds of books that will soon be forgotten?

Judy wrote: "There's a haunting glimpse of a deserter from the First World War sleeping rough early in the book - makes me wonder how many there were, and if there is a book about those who deserted?"

I've just read that very section Judy. Very touching. I wonder what became of him. All we know is that the police came and took him away.

Amazing the book opens almost 100 years ago to the date of this very group read.

Already I am (once again) struck by Laurie Lee's amazing writing.

The poet whose prose flashes and winks like a prism - HE Bates

This is the cover of the edition I am reading...



(^ Actually it's the cover of the very book I am reading. I just uploaded that photo of it)

I'm planning on reading this one soon. I have never read it before, which is pretty shocking as he is something of a local hero, and I have always been aware of the book and meant to read it. Looking forward to finally getting around to it, especially after reading the glowing praise it gets here.

Lovely cover, Nigeyb. I'm reading the edition you posted at the start.

On the deserters, there are a couple of books about them, but they only focus on those who were "shot at dawn". Those who were killed included young boys who had lied about their age to sign up, and soldiers suffering from shell shock.

About 3,000 were sentenced to death and of those around 300 were actually shot, with the rest having their sentences commuted. They were all given a posthumous pardon a few years ago and there is also a memorial to them, based on Herbert Burden who was only 17 when he died - too young to officially join up:

The books about deserters that I found details of were Shot at Dawn: Executions in World War One by Authority of the British Army ACT and Blindfold and Alone.

It would be interesting, though, also to read about the deserters who weren't executed and what happened to them. I'm hoping the man the Lees helped wasn't executed - I wonder if I can find any information about him?

Tania wrote: "I'm planning on reading this one soon. I have never read it before, which is pretty shocking as he is something of a local hero, and I have always been aware of the book and meant to read it. Looki..."

Hope you enjoy it, Tania! I know what you mean though - there are so many books I've been meaning to read for years.

I spent a few minutes searching but couldn't find any information about the deserter - there is a page about him, but it is questions rather than answers.

Splendid research, as always Judy. There must be so many touching stories about deserters.


Tania wrote: "I'm planning on reading this one soon. I have never read it before, which is pretty shocking as he is something of a local hero....."

Wonderful news Tania. I eagerly await your reaction.

What a treat to be reading this wonderful book again.


Cider With Rosie is unquestionably a five star read.

It's one of the most beautifully written books I know of (right up there with A Month in the Country and The Remains of the Day). A poetic prose poem which is both accessible and a constant delight.

I've just been reminded of something that has stuck in my mind since first reading this book, the strange affliction of the Prospect Smiler...

...few men I think can have been as unfortunate as he; for on the one hand he was a melancholic with a loathing for mankind, on the other, some paralysis had twisted his mouth into a permanent and radiant smile. So everyone he met, being warmed by his smile, would shout him a happy greeting. And beaming upon them with his sunny face he would curse them all to hell.

I'm so taken with Cider With Rosie, and the autobiographical trilogy more generally, that I have visited Slad, Laurie Lee's village of which he writes to memorably in this book, twice in 2018. Of course no visit to the Slad valley is complete without visiting the Slad village pub The Woolpack.



It's now something of a shrine to Laurie Lee. Here's a couple of photos I took back in March 2018....

Thank you for posting those photos, Nigeyb - how fascinating that you visited Slad and the Woolpack! Good to see that there are photos of Laurie Lee there.

One of the essays in his collection Village Christmas And Other Notes on the English Year tells how people sometimes came to Slad when he was living there in later life, looking for information about him, and he claims that once or twice strangers asked him if he knew where Laurie Lee was buried!

Glad you are enjoying your reread, Nigeyb - I agree the writing style is beautiful.

It struck me that a small village school I attended in Essex for a couple of years in the mid-60s was not so very different in design from the one he describes here of less than 50 years earlier - we also had two rooms for the infants and the "big'uns", although our big'uns only went up to 11, as they then went on to high school.

However, one difference was that we had a big air raid shelter under the school, used for storage - oddly, we all called it the air raid shelter, although I don't suppose as six and seven-year-olds in 1966 we had any idea what an air raid actually was.

I'd recommend a visit to the Woolpack, and the surrounding area is lovely too.

That school sounds wonderful Judy - I can't believe such places were still going strong in the mid 60s.

Well, I think the teaching methods were somewhat more modern - though we did chant tables etc, but I think that is being brought back anyway!

We got the cane at my school which seems extraordinary looking back.

Back to the book, I love the section where Laurie describes all the tricks he and his fellow pupils would employ to get out of school. The one that makes me laugh out loud is how they'd claim to be related to the occupant of any passing coffin, so many a small mourning party was hugely expanded by a group of sombre looking children to the bemusement of the main mourners.

Another thing, what constantly amazes me is how the world Laurie describes is a mere hundred years ago. Less by the time we get to the school years. To think he was living in a virtually cut off and self contained little community. The car certainly changed that world beyond all recognition.

Nigeyb wrote: "I'd recommend a visit to the Woolpack, and the surrounding area is lovely too.

Thanks Nigeyb. I have visitors this weekend, so I think a visit to the Woolpack for Lunch and a walk sounds like a great idea. Hopefully I'll be picking the book up tomorrow, too.

How wonderful. Please let us know how it goes Tania.


By the way I posted a photo of the book cover on Instagram and someone I recently met (friend of a friend) posted....

We used to go to his daughter Jessie Lee's house in Slad near Stroud, Laurie was a pal of my dad's. Lovely family

That makes me very happy

I'll be sure to find out more next time we meet in person

I just came across Val's review of this book in which she states....


This is a memoir which could only have been written by a poet, looking back on an earlier time. Laurie Lee has a poet's intuition and sensibility for words and images which means that his prose is rich and evocative, without ever turning purple

I couldn't agree more.

The writing is wonderful. Aligned to Laurie's fabulous memories and the powerful sense of place, it makes Cider With Rosie a delight from start to finish. I'm savouring every page.

I think my uncle knew him, as he also writes poetry, and there are quite a few events in Stroud, (mainly in the pubs) where writers get together for readings. Pretty sure my Dad met him, too. I'll see what I can find out, but Dad is in Japan at the moment, I'll have to wait until he gets back. Watch this space....

Thanks Tania. I'd be very interested to hear any of your Dad's memories of Laurie or indeed the Slad or Stroud area more generally.

I'll try to do this on Sunday, weather permitting.
. Have you done this walk?

Not that exact Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust's Laurie Lee Wildlife Way walk however I have done parts of it. Next time I visit the area I'll aim to do that exact walk. Thanks again Tania.


It looks as though a walk leaflet is available for 拢1....

Yes. I think you can buy it in the pub.

Currently reading the chapter which describes neighbours and arch enemies Granny Wallon and Granny Trill.


Just wonderful

I have just started reading this and find the language and the descriptions just wonderful. Every page has a memorable passage but one phrase that made me laugh was about his school-mate, Spadge Hopkins:

"The sight of him squeezed into his tiny desk was worse than a bullock in ballet shoes."

Also I feel that his mother was quite remarkable, looking after eight children on her own when, if I understand it correctly, none of them were actually hers. (Or perhaps three were, but not the first five?)

One story that stood out to me was about the panic that ensued when it rained and the house was in danger of flooding. It brought back memories of my Mum using a broom to sweep away deep puddles outside the back door where it didn't drain properly, but nothing as hair-raising as this!

Thanks Sue. I must echo every word. It's a complete joy. I'm delighted to learn that you are enjoying it so much.

Sue wrote: "Also I feel that his mother was quite remarkable, looking after eight children on her own when, if I understand it correctly, none of them were actually hers. (Or perhaps three were, but not the first five?)"

You'll find out a bit more about this later on. And yes, the last three are hers. Laurie barely knew his father - which, it turns out, he was quite happy about. As you'll also discover.

Sue wrote: "One story that stood out to me was about the panic that ensued when it rained and the house was in danger of flooding."

Absolutely. I've never experienced flooding but most years there are news items of communities where there's been a flood and it looks so grim. It must be so traumatic seeing your home full of water.

One thing I've been musing over is the family's level of wealth (or poverty really).

They mention having "a harmonium for coats and a piano for dust and photographs". (That description made me smile by the way - it sounds like they didn't get much use!) Also, Laurie Lee is practising the violin at one point, so that's at least three musical instruments in the house. Yet his mother struggles to put enough food on the table and he describes how important it is to eat quickly, to have a chance of getting 'seconds' before the food runs out.

I believe it was much more common back then to have instruments, but surely she would have pawned or sold them if she needed the money? Or am I just being far too pragmatic?! Or is it just that little boys are always hungry no matter how much you feed them! ;-)

By the way, I'm reading the Collector's Library edition and it has gorgeous line drawings throughout the book. There's one of Laurie practising the violin while his mother is waving the pancake pan around. :-)

Thanks Sue. My edition also has those line drawings in and which are quite charming.

Regarding their relative poverty, two things come to mind.

One is that whilst clearly fairly poor they always seem to be able to afford food so perhaps not so poor that they ever went without food.

Secondly having been to the village there really would have been nowhere to pawn things, the nearest main larger town is Stroud but I think later in the book Laurie mentions how it seemed a world away - although in reality it would have taken no more than 60 minutes to walk there, probably nearer 45 minutes, although again whether it was big enough to have a pawn shop I wouldn't like to say. Probably not. Gloucester is probably the nearest place likely to have a pawn shop and that would have been about 3 hours each way.

Nigeyb wrote: "having been to the village there really would have been nowhere to pawn things..."

Good point Nigeyb, I hadn't thought about how remote they were.

I think, pre-TV, a piano was very much a thing that families wanted to have if at all possible for entertainment, and a bit of a status symbol - obviously, as they are so big and heavy, selling one would also have been a big palaver and possibly involved taking out windows etc?! Remember Laurel and Hardy getting the piano up the stairs ...

The violin is useful later, Laurie busks with it in As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning to get enough money for food and to cross the Channel.
His mother might have been able to sell the piano and harmonium if the family were desperate, if someone else had enough money to buy them, but I got the impression that they were poor without becoming destitute and that selling family possessions might be considered as an admission that his father was not coming back.

Val wrote: "I got the impression that they were poor without becoming destitute and that selling family possessions might be considered as an admission that his father was not coming back."

Good point about the father Val. I've just read the section where Laurie states his Mum always believed the Dad was going to return.

I've now finished thechapter which describes neighbours and arch enemies Granny Wallon and Granny Trill, and their symbiotic relationship. Wonderful stuff.

Nigeyb wrote: "I've now finished thechapter which describes neighbours and arch enemies Granny Wallon and Granny Trill, and their symbiotic relationship. Wonderful stuff."

Yes I enjoyed that chapter Nigeyb. I've just finished the piece on Joseph and Hannah Brown and it's heartbreaking. They lived together (view spoiler)[ for fifty years yet died within days of each other. Their level of poverty was appalling. They couldn't make a fire so ate peelings. I wonder if they would have died from their illness anyway, or whether splitting them up in the workhouse broke their spirit and they lost the will to live. They didn't seem to have anyone to call on for help when they were ill either. It's a contrast to many of the tales about neighbours keeping an eye on each other and helping each other in difficult times.

In terms of the writing, it's very clever that Lee gets us to care so much about this couple in just a short passage. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks Sue. I've not reached that chapter and cannot immediately bring it to mind from my previous readings, so have not clicked on your hidden spoiler. I'll report back when I get there.

Sue wrote: "I've just finished the piece on Joseph and Hannah Brown and it's heartbreaking. They lived together (view spoiler)"

Just finished that very chapter Sue. Very moving and powerful. Indeed the whole chapter is full of extraordinary tales, not least the murder which opens events.

This book is magnificent.

I'm so enjoying this discussion. I was only able to read the first part of the book as someone else requested it at the library so I couldn't renew. But I agree with everything you've all said about the beauty of the writing and how moving the stories are. The sense of the lost world was so melancholic.

The edition I borrowed was The Illustrated Cider With Rosie and it was gorgeous. I highly recommend taking a look at it if you get the chance (though it is a bit of a wrist-breaker.)

Storyheart wrote: "The edition I borrowed was The Illustrated Cider With Rosie and it was gorgeous"


That edition is indeed gorgeous Storyheart. I have never seen that before.

Storyheart wrote: "I agree with everything you've all said about the beauty of the writing and how moving the stories are. The sense of the lost world was so melancholic."

Nail. And head.

I have just finished and I'm already wondering how soon I'll be able to read it again! What a wonderful book.