Subject
Nature -- Fiction Books
Best books
Mary Gladys Meredith Webb
Gone to Earth
"Gone to Earth" by Mary Webb is a novel written in the early 20th century, specifically in 1917. The story revolves around a young girl named Hazel Woodus, who is portrayed with a wild, untamed spirit that connects her deeply to nature and the world around her. The narrative unfolds in a rural landscape laden with mystical elements and explores themes of identity, freedom, and the struggle against societal constraints. The opening of the novel paints a vivid picture of the cold, untouched beauty of the Callow, immersing readers in a poetic depiction of nature and introducing Hazel as a unique character who finds solace among the woods and animals. Hazel, whose mother was a Welsh gypsy, inherits a sense of wanderlust and a connection to the mystical traditions through a manuscript of spells left to her after her mother's death. As she interacts with her father Abel, displaying indifference towards each other, we see glimpses of their complex relationship. The chapter captures Hazel’s youthful innocence and longing for adventure, as well as her deep bond with a small fox, which highlights her connection to the wild. Through this opening, Webb establishes a sense of foreboding, hinting at the struggles Hazel will face as she seeks to navigate her place in a world that often feels threatening and restrictive.
Henry Williamson
Tarka the otter : $b his joyful water-life and death in the country of the two rivers
“Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers” by Henry Williamson is a novel written in the early 20th century. The book centers on the life of Tarka, an otter, following his adventures and struggles in the rivers, meadows, and woodlands of rural England. The story is told from the animal’s perspective, offering detailed observations of otter behavior and the natural world, while also depicting the challenges faced by wildlife in a landscape shaped by both nature and humans. Readers can expect a vivid and immersive account of animal life, full of beauty and peril, without a sentimental or anthropomorphic approach. The opening of “Tarka the Otter” introduces the reader to the richly described river landscape, where otters and other animals live among the changing rhythms of water, weather, and hunting. The story begins with Tarka’s mother, recently hunted by hounds, as she finds refuge and gives birth to her first litter, including Tarka. Through lyrical and precise prose, Williamson follows the early months of Tarka's life—from his first moments as a blind cub, learning to explore the world, to his tentative steps into water and encounters with other wildlife. The narrative details both the joys of play and the persistent dangers—such as predatory birds, hunting dogs, and human-set traps—that threaten otter life. This beginning section paints a vivid and unsentimental picture of the natural world, alive with its cycles of survival, predation, and discovery.
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