Originally published in England in 1910, this story of a shepherd, Caleb
Bawcombe, describes life in the south-central English county of
Wiltshire before the turn of the 20th century. It is a charming picture
of pastoral life that often seems idyllic and simple when viewed from
the present. Caleb Bawcombe is a fictitious name thought to represent
one James Lawes, and the town in the tale, Winterbourne Bishop, has been
identified as the town of Martin. Friends, family, and acquaintances are
interwoven in Caleb's story, and the interaction between humanity and
nature is highlighted, capturing life at that specific time and place.