Table of Contents
Next to Nature Book Review > TL;DR
Next to Nature by Ronald Blythe is a beautifully curated collection of columns originally published in the Church Times, reflecting on the countryside rhythms of Wormingford, Suffolk. Organised by month, with each section prefaced by notable friends and admirers, it offers readers a rich tapestry of nature writing intertwined with personal observations, theological musings, and village anecdotes. The prose is intricate and leisurely, demanding attention and patience, but rewarding with depth and elegance. For those who appreciate nature writing that balances literary flair with meditative calm, Next to Nature is a must-read. Whether taken in daily doses or savoured in long sittings, it offers enduring insight and pleasure.
First Thoughts
I first discovered Next to Nature on a spontaneous visit to my local Waterstones on the same day that I bought The Lost Rainforests of Britain. I’d never heard of Ronald Blythe before, but this book left a lasting impression. Spanning almost five hundred pages, it is an ideal bedside companion – a book to dip into month by month. What struck me most was Blythe’s acute attention to the tiniest details: from observing his cat to reflecting on the water source in his garden. Despite my usual scepticism about religious musings, Blythe’s reflections on the Anglican calendar and liturgy felt unexpectedly comforting and instructive.
There is a rare quality in his writing: time itself seems to slow, allowing each moment its full weight and texture. Blythe managed a life sculpted by deliberate choices, trading modern busyness for a kind of contemplative richness. The writing feels like a series of gourmet morsels, perfectly crafted and always leaving you wanting more. Beyond the monthly introductions from figures like Vikram Seth and Robert Macfarlane, there are vivid personal encounters woven throughout, including visits from Martin Bell and farewells to Roger Deakin. For anyone who loves nature and the best of nature writing, this book stands out as something special.
About the Book
Next to Nature: A Lifetime in the English Countryside gathers Ronald Blythe’s long-running “Word from Wormingford” columns into a single volume, published to celebrate his 100th birthday. Blythe, who passed away in 2023, spent his entire life in Suffolk, rooted in the village of Wormingford at Bottengoms Farm – a home he inherited from artist John Nash. These columns, spanning from 1993 to 2017, are structured around the calendar year, each month introduced by distinguished writers and friends including Rowan Williams, Maggi Hambling, and Robert Macfarlane.
The book isn’t merely a collection of countryside notes. Blythe weaves in reflections on history, theology, art, music, and literature, all tied to the ebb and flow of village life and the natural world around him. From the scent of snow to the nuances of the liturgical calendar, his writing creates a sensory-rich, deeply human portrait of rural England. Interspersed with John Nash’s wood engravings and paintings, Next to Nature stands as both a literary and visual tribute to a unique voice in English letters. Published by John Murray in 2023, it is both a farewell and a celebration of Blythe’s lifelong work.
What Others Think
In Richard Smyth’s essay, originally published in the Times Literary Supplement in 2023, Next to Nature is described as a definitive anthology that reaffirms Blythe’s stature among nature writers. The reviewer emphasises Blythe’s ease of prose and his deep identification with the Essex-Suffolk landscape. There is also a reflection on the balance between Blythe’s public voice and the absence of personal confessions, setting his work apart from more self-revealing memoirists. His style is noted as fluent and leisurely, with a resonance that blends observation, history, and theology.
Another perspective, shared in on: yorkshire magazine, highlights Blythe’s journey from humble beginnings to a celebrated chronicler of rural England. The writer notes the richness of detail in Next to Nature and suggests it rewards a slow, meditative reading style – even likening it to a form of daily reflection or meditation. While acknowledging that Blythe’s prose may initially feel dense or difficult, the review encourages perseverance, assuring readers that the book’s depth and beauty reveal themselves gradually.
A third Tricia Gilbey in Suffolk Book League underlines the personal connection many Suffolk locals feel towards Blythe and his work. The review celebrates the book’s structure, blending monthly rhythms with local events, literary reflections, and pastoral details. The inclusion of introductions by figures such as Robert Macfarlane and Vikram Seth is noted as adding further richness. There’s particular admiration for Blythe’s capacity to observe and write with gentle humour and grace, capturing both the people and the landscape of Wormingford with effortless, almost magical skill.
Themes, Style & Impact
Ronald Blythe’s Next to Nature operates at the intersection of nature writing, literary reflection, and quiet spiritual meditation. Its primary theme is the relationship between human life and the cyclical rhythms of the natural world, observed through the lens of the English countryside. Blythe’s style is distinct: a leisurely, layered prose that combines historical anecdotes, theological musings, and close observation of village life and the landscape.
The book also explores the idea of ordinariness transformed into something extraordinary through the act of careful observation and considered writing. Blythe’s reflections on farming, church life, and the changing seasons present a contemplative counterpoint to more urgent or activist strands of nature writing. Rather than focusing on ecological crisis, Blythe records the enduring patterns of rural life with humility and grace.
Stylistically, Next to Nature shares qualities with writers like Roger Deakin and Robert Macfarlane, but with less of the overt adventurousness and more of a focus on staying put, observing quietly. His language is rich yet understated, often embedding philosophical or literary allusions within simple observations. The book also holds a cultural significance as a record of a specific place – Wormingford – and a specific tradition within English writing: that of the layperson observer with a deep reverence for both land and liturgy.
Next to Nature by Ronald Blythe > Final Thoughts
Reading Next to Nature feels like entering a slower, older world. It invites readers not just to observe nature but to inhabit it thoughtfully, season by season. Ronald Blythe’s legacy is not just his acute observational skill but his ability to fuse personal humility with literary elegance. For those who value introspective, richly textured prose, this book offers a lasting companion.
It is not a book for rushing through. Some readers may initially struggle with its pace and density, but those willing to slow down will find immense reward. As part of my own Booker Prize reading journey, Next to Nature stands as a reminder that literary excellence isn’t confined to dramatic plots or intense self-revelation. Sometimes, quiet observation and gentle faith can produce the most resonant works.
Further Reading
- Akenfield by Ronald Blythe – Blythe’s earlier and perhaps most famous work, exploring village life in Suffolk.
- Wildwood by Roger Deakin – For those interested in nature writing that shares Blythe’s observational tone.
- The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane – Explores landscape and walking with a similarly reflective style.
- How to Be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson – A celebration of slowing down and embracing a less hurried life.
- The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd – A classic meditation on place and observation.