Project Gutenberg 2004-04-01 Public domain in the USA. 179 Jefferies, Richard 1848 1887 Jefferies, John Richard Hodge and His Masters E-text prepared by Malcolm Farmer and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders "Hodge and His Masters" by Richard Jefferies is a collection of essays written during the late 19th century, reflecting on agricultural life and the various characters inhabiting the rural landscape. The work delves into the complexities and struggles faced by farmers and laborers, examining the social and economic dynamics of their lives, particularly during a time of agricultural depression. Jefferies presents a range of characters, such as farmers, their tenants, and laborers, encapsulating their individual experiences and the impact of their choices on their livelihoods. At the start of the book, the scene is set in a small rural town, emphasizing the bustling activities typical of a market day. The narrative opens with a vivid description of the Jason Inn, a central location where farmers gather amidst the noise and chaos of selling and trading. As they settle down to discuss a pressing lecture titled "Science, the Remedy for Agricultural Depression," the professor passionately argues that the agricultural community is to blame for their misfortunes due to their reluctance to embrace modern farming methods. This sparks a vibrant debate among the farmers about the realities of agriculture, the influence of tradition, and the dire need for reform, illustrating the tension between progress and conservatism entrenched in rural life. The opening portion effectively captures the reader's attention with its rich characterizations and social commentary, setting the tone for the themes explored throughout the text. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 65.6 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en England -- Rural conditions Agricultural laborers -- England Country life -- England HD Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: Nature/Gardening/Animals 780465 2025-07-05T12:04:15.736568 text/html 758816 2024-10-28T18:57:14 text/html 380762 2025-07-05T12:04:24.301494 application/epub+zip 391246 2025-07-05T12:04:18.485559 application/epub+zip 373799 2025-07-05T12:04:17.356577 application/epub+zip 634958 2025-07-05T12:04:29.265489 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 609659 2025-07-05T12:04:23.615549 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 583488 2022-09-06T17:33:52.607069 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 764716 2023-10-05T13:33:58.296382 text/plain 744895 2024-10-28T18:57:13 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16486 2025-07-05T12:04:29.384491 application/rdf+xml 12872 2025-07-05T12:04:17.855537 image/jpeg 3384 2025-07-05T12:04:17.603544 image/jpeg 372397 2025-07-05T12:04:15.800549 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia