A new collection and a fifth volume in the much loved Wormingford series, River Diary sees Ronald Blythe observe the progress of one whole calendar year in the river valley where he has lived and worked among artists, writers, farmers and, increasingly, commuters. For all the changes in the contemporary countryside, timeless qualities remain and both are captured here with a poet? s understanding and imagination. The year takes its shape from the seasons of nature and the feasts and festivals of the Christian year. Each informs and illuminates the other in this loving celebration of nature? s gifts and neighbourly friendship. Literature, poetry, spirituality and memory all merge to create an exquisite series of stories of our times. These short essays first appeared in the 'Word From Wormingford' column, a popular back page feature of the Church Times for fifteen years.