Pastoral

A NOTE ON THE TEXT

Pastoral is, in part, an homage to Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, the Pastoral Symphony. The novel’s chapters follow the logic of the symphony whose five movements are entitled:

1. Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country

2. Scene at the brook

3. Happy gathering of country folk

4. Thunderstorm; Storm

5. Shepherds' song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm

The Pastoral Symphony is also inextricably associated — in my mind — with Lambton County, where I grew up. This novel is, thus, a paean to the place where I first learned what Nature was to mean for my Canadian self.