
audiobook
In this candid autobiography, a Suffolk farmhand recounts his life from the year of his birth in 1809 through the bustling decades of the nineteenth century. He paints a vivid portrait of rural village life, from the clang of the parish school to the wind‑blown fields that shaped his childhood. The narrative is peppered with amusing incidents—a runaway horse, a stubborn windmill, and a childhood injury that left a lifelong scar—offering both humor and insight.
Against this personal backdrop, the wider sweep of history looms: the fall of Sir John Moore at Corunna, the shadow of Napoleon, and the triumph at Waterloo are mentioned as the world changes around him. Yet the focus remains on his own perseverance, the stern yet caring guidance of early teachers, and a steadfast faith that he credits for seeing him through hardship. Listeners will find a warm, reflective glimpse into a life lived with quiet determination and modest ambition.
Full title
Interesting Incidents Connected With the Life of George Bickers Originally a Farmer's Parish Apprentice at Laxfield, in Suffolk, but Now Residing in Oulton
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (153K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2020-05-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
A 19th-century Suffolk laborer turned memoirist, he wrote with plainspoken honesty about hardship, survival, and everyday life. His autobiography offers a rare ground-level view of rural England from 1809 to 1881.
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