Author's husband inspired novel about Great Flood of 1953

The Farmer and the Fury by Cherry Burroughs brings to life not only the nightmarish event of the flood itself, but the catastrophic consequences felt by coastal farmers for years to come. 

The novel follows the Hadley family, who live on an unnamed island on the Essex coast, as they slowly rebuild their lives.  

The night of January 31 begins with patriarch George settling his cattle in for the night. Hours later, the family is awoken by the terrified barking of their dog, as he straddles the roof of his kennel to keep himself above the rising water. 

People and horses battling the flood in Cobolm. (Image: Archant)

The novel describes how people came together in the wake of the flood. (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Burroughs explained that this image is directly inspired from the childhood memories of her husband, John, who grew up on a farm on Foulness Island.  

Like the Hadley children, he remembers being rowed to the safety of the mainland.  

It was from conversations with her husband that Mrs Burroughs decided to write a novel exploring the plight of farmers, an aspect she felt was rarely considered. 

“There was a fine line between this country having enough food and not,” she explained. The UK was still recovering from the Second World War, and in 1953, foods such as sugar and meat were still rationed. 

Mrs Burroughs continued: “When the flood happened, there were 250 farmers in the Essex area who had problems with their crops. 

“There were tonnes and tonnes of salt left in the soil, and salt kills plants. My husband can remember looking out of a window over the fields, and seeing nothing but thousands of white threads – dead worms.” 

An unexpectedly bleak moment in the novels occurs when Mr Hadley is ordered by an officious welfare inspector to have his surviving pigs and cows destroyed, because of the risk they post to water contamination.” 

Provisions being delivered to people in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Newsquest)

Cherry Burroughs was inspired to write her novel after hearing her husband's memories of the flood. Credit: Cherry Burroughs (Image: Cherry Burroughs)

However, Mrs Burroughs also emphasises the dual nature of the outside world. 

“Nature can be very cruel and destructive, but equally, it can be very beautiful,” she said. 

As much is echoed by George when he comforts his frightened eldest son. 

“Nature is everywhere,” he says. “She says what will happen to the land and we must listen to her.” 

To buy The Farmer and the Fury on Amazon, visit: www.amazon.co.uk/Cherry-Burroughs/e/B0BNZCDNW4/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1