The book “Driving over Lemons” was written by Chris Stewart, a skilled sheep-shearer and former Genesis drummer. He quit Genesis at the age of 17 then shifted to being a sheep-shearer and travel writer. This best seller talks about his adventures when he came into terms with the lifestyle, terrains and the people of Alpujarras.
Find out more about Driving over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia
La Alpujarra or simply Alpujarras is Southern Spain’s most mountainous district. It stretches southwards from the Sierra Nevada Mountains through Granada (Andalusia’s autonomous region). The eastern section lies in Almeria province while the western section is in the Granada province. Alpujarras is also sometimes spelled as “Alpuxarras” but it still means “the grassland”.
“Driving over Lemons” is actually based on the farm Chris bought, El Valero. It’s a rich patch of mountainland situated along the wrong side of the river with no access roads, electricity and water supply. However, it is studded with almonds, olives and lemon groves. This is where Chris Stewart derived the book’s title.
“Driving over Lemons” presents how Christ Stewart pursued his dream to live in Alpujarras and become one with the locals. In the book, Chris realizes what he has traded for and writes down in detail how he spent his whole year installing life’s little luxuries like his home’s water supply. However, Chris’ optimism was shunned by Ada, a straight-talking, relentlessly unsentimental and tactless character. These two personalities counterbalance each other in the book much like an optimist and a pessimist placed in a secluded place.
Christ Stewart wittingly gave insights about the everyday dramas one can find in a typical farm in Spain. Aside from his own account of the story, the book also mentioned stories about his neighbors who were mostly expats, new age travelers and peasant farmers. It also connoted how Chris was able to pull off moving from Sussex to a farm that has no electricity, no running water and even withstanding a couple of odd neighbors every day.
When Chris and his wife (Ana) purchased El Valero, they never cared to look back. Later on, they realized that it was all worth it. Other characters in the book were Domingo, a neighbor who helped Chris tend his farm and a couple named Pedro and Maria who left El Valero to live in the town proper.
“Driving over Lemons” is paperback-bound and was published by Sort Of books on June 3, 1999. It’s written in English. It has 256 pages and its dimensions are 19.6 by 12.8 by 2.2 centimeters.
The book aims to transport the readers to Las Alpujarras and possibly change the perception of most people about country living. Although Chris initially depicted the place as an oddball region, he later transformed it into an optimist’s paradise. It even featured a month-by-month narration of Chris Stewart’s struggles and how he overcame it with optimism.
Andalusia is truly a fascinating place filled with so many natural landscapes. It’s no wonder why this autobiography of Chris Stewart became an all-time best seller.
