Native Soil

“An intriguing story weaving together natural history, academic battles, and the green revolution. The landscape of Yorkshire is described with verve and delight. A doomed romance binds the tale together, as the competing claims of love and scientific research vie for supremacy.” Richard Fortey, author of The Hidden Landscape, Life: An Unauthorized Biography, and Dry Store Room no 1 – The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum; “The rich characters and intriguing plot of Native Soil make it a compelling romance. But it also uses that genre to explore some of the most urgent political and cultural concerns in contemporary life. Questions about the damage caused by conventional agriculture and how to transform it into a sustainable activity are amongst the most vital if the planet is to survive. Native Soil places these questions at the heart of a powerful narrative.” Ian Gregson, author of Not Tonight Neil, How We Met, and Call Centre Love Song; “Though it focuses on the relationships between the main characters, the novel also looks at the complex of relationships between politicians, academics, farmers that become involved in any attempt to get an agricultural research project going. Details on topics such as business planning for the farm, looking after sheep or GM technology are included without slowing the story down. The reader is prompted to think about priorities, as one character says: “So, we pay for a moon shot but can’t afford to catalogue the living things on the planet.” The engrossing story is peopled with convincing characters – it’s an indication of how well Olivia’s character is drawn that I actually fretted over whether she was moving too quickly in the relationship, convinced that she would be disappointed. You will of course need to read the novel to find out whether my concerns were correct!” Crafty Green Poet