The Bucolic Plague: How Two Manhattanites Became Gentlemen Farmers: An Unconventional Memoir (P.S.)

What happens when two New Yorkers (one an ex?drag queen) do the unthinkable: start over, have a herd of kids, and get a little dirty? Find out in this riotous and moving true tale of goats, mud, and a centuries-old mansion in rustic upstate New York?the new memoir by Josh Kilmer-Purcell, author of the New York Times bestseller I Am Not Myself These Days . A happy series of accidents and a doughnut-laden escape upstate take Josh and his partner, Brent, to the doorstep of the magnificent (and fabulously for sale) Beekman Mansion. One hour and one tour later, they have begun their transformation from uptight urbanites into the two-hundred-year-old-mansion-owning Beekman Boys. Suddenly, Josh?a full-time New Yorker with a successful advertising career?and Brent are weekend farmers, surrounded by nature's bounty and an eclectic cast: roosters who double as a wedding cover band; Bubby, the bionic cat; and a herd of eighty-eight goats, courtesy of their new caretaker, Farmer John. And soon, a fledgling business, born of a gift of handmade goat-milk soap, blossoms into a brand, Beekman 1802. The Bucolic Plague is tart and sweet, touching and laugh out loud funny, a story about approaching middle age, being in a long-term relationship, realizing the city no longer feeds you in the same way it used to, and finding new depths of love and commitment wherever you live.

National Bestseller

What happens when two New Yorkers (one an ex–drag queen) do the unthinkable: start over, raise a herd of kids, and get a little dirty?

A happy series of accidents and a doughnut-laden escape upstate take Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his partner, Brent Ridge, to the doorstep of the magnificent (and fabulously for sale) Beekman Mansion. And so begins their transformation from uptight urbanites into the two-hundred-year-old-mansion-owning Beekman Boys. Suddenly Josh—a full-time New Yorker with a successful advertising career—and Brent find themselves weekend farmers, surrounded by nature's bounty and an eclectic cast: roosters who double as a wedding cover band; Bubby, the bionic cat; and a herd of goats, courtesy of their new caretaker, Farmer John.

The Bucolic Plague is a tart and sweet, touching and laugh-out-loud funny story about goats, mud, homemade soap, approaching middle age, and finding new depths of love and commitment wherever you live.

A happy series of accidents takes Josh Kilmer-Purcell and his partner, Brent, to the doorstep of the magnificent (and fabulously For Sale) Beekman Mansion. One hour later, they have transformed from uptight urbanites into the 200-year-old mansion-owning Beekman Boys, a.k.a. the Fag Farmers. Like Oliver and Lisa Douglas in Green Acres, Josha full-time New Yorker approaching middle age with a successful advertising careeris suddenly a weekend farmer, surrounded by natures bounty and an eclectic cast: roosters who double for a wedding cover band, Bubby the bionic cat, and a herd of 60 goats courtesy of their new caretaker, Farmer John. Tart and sweet, touching and laugh-out-loud funny, The Bucolic Plague shows what happens when two middle-aged New Yorkers (one, an ex-drag queen) do the unthinkable: start over, have a herd of kids (the four-legged kind), and get a little dirty. “I adore the Beekman boys’ story. Their unlikely story of love, the land, and a herd of goats is hilariously honest. If these two can go from Manhattan to a goat farm in upstate New York, then I can’t help feeling there is hope for us all.” –Alice Waters “Kilmer-Purcell’s genius lies in his ability to blindside the reader with heart-wrenching truths in the midst of the most outlandish scenarios. He makes you laugh until you care.” — Armistead Maupin Michael Perry (Coop, Truck: A Love Story) meets David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim) in this follow-up to Josh Kilmer-Purcell’s beloved New York Times bestselling debut memoir, I Am Not Myself These Days—another riotous, moving, and entirely unique story of his attempt to tackle the next phase of life with his partner... on a goat farm in upstate New York. Michael Perry Meets David Sedaris In This Follow-up To Josh Kilmer-purcell's Beloved And Bestselling Debut Memoir, I Am Not Myself These Days--another Riotous, Moving, And Entirely Unique Story Of His Attempt To Tackle The Next Phase Of Life With His Partner On A Goat Farm In Upstate New York--provided By Publisher. Josh Kilmer-purcell. Chronicles the author's journey from Manhattan urbanite to mansion-owning goat farmer, an endeavor that he undertook with his life partner, Brent, and which blossomed into a successful soap business, Beekman 1802, and inspired a reality show