News from Somewhere: On Settling

For a number of years, Roger Scruton has contributed a weekly article to the Financial Times on country matters. Always beautifully written, one of these pieces (Vegetables) won the 2002 prize from The Queen's English Society for the best piece of prose writing of the year.

These are not sentimental bucolic rambles. Scruton's prose is devoid of sentimentality and soggy nostalgia. Whatever he writes about, he always writes with serious purpose.

Key Themes Explored:

• Advocacy for Country Dwellers:
  Scruton speaks up for the country dweller, highlighting how their world is eroded by the wishy-washy liberal commands of Blairite do-gooders. These are individuals who, from the comfort of North West London, pontificate about the needs of country people without truly understanding their lives.
• Nature and Farming Issues:
  He addresses the harsh realities of nature, "red in tooth and claw," which are often only understood by others through classroom discussions. Farming issues are equally significant, with the devastations of the foot and mouth crisis serving as a stark reminder of the divide between town and country dwellers.
• Alienation of Rural Communities:
  Scruton also sheds light on the alienation felt by countryside residents when their fate is decided by bureaucrats in Brussels and Strasbourg, further deepening the divide.

A Powerful Advocate:

These are the causes that Professor Scruton espouses. He has become their most intelligent, articulate, and clear-thinking advocate, championing the rights and realities of country life with unmatched insight and purpose.