THE Bookery, in Crediton, will be hosting author John Lewis Stempel on Thursday, April 14 at 7pm, when he will be discussing his new book “A Sheep’s Tale,” which will be published on Thursday, April 7.

Observing the traditional shepherd’s calendar “The Sheep’s Tale” is a loving biography of ewes, lambs, and rams through the seasons. Lewis-Stempel tends to his flock with deep-rooted wisdom, ethical consideration, affection, and humour.

This book is a tribute to all the sheep he has reared and sheared - from gregarious Action Ram to sweet Maid Marion.

In his inimitable style, he shares the tales that only a shepherd can tell.

Everybody thinks they know what sheep are like: they’re stupid, noisy, cowardly “lambs to the slaughter” and they are “sheepwrecking” the environment. Or maybe not.

Contrary to popular prejudice, sheep are among the smartest animals in the farmyard, forming long and lasting friendships. Sheep, farmed properly, are boons to biodiversity.

They also happen to taste good and their fleeces warm us through the winter - indeed, John Lewis-Stempel’s family supplied the wool for Queen Elizabeth’s “hose”.

John Lewis-Stempel is a traditional farmer and keeps cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry.

His books include the “Sunday Times” bestsellers “Woodston”, “The Running Hare” and “The Wood”.

He is the only person to have won the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing twice, with “Meadowland” and “Where Poppies Blow”.

In 2016 he was named Magazine Columnist of the Year for his column in “Country Life”.

Tickets for the talk, priced at £5, are available from The Bookery or online at: https://thebookery.org.uk/ .