The Shepherd's Life: A Tale of the Lake District is an autobiographical book by James Rebanks, a sheep farmer from Matterdale, Cumbria, England, published by Allen Lane in 2015.

Rebanks describes the traditional way of life of shepherds on the Cumbrian fells and vales, and his determination to continue to farm where generations of his forebears had done.

After an unsuccessful school education, he studied for A levels in evening classes and graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford University, with a double first in history before returning to farming.

[3][4] The book was adapted for the stage by Chris Monks and produced at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, in March 2016.

[5] The theatrical production included life-sized puppet sheepdogs and sheep, with James being played by Kieran Hill.