Tarka the Otter

[Meta menardi]

He also wrote a book called "The Story of a Norfolk Farm" published in 1941. My copy is printed on paper of a low quality due to wartime economies. In this, he leaves Devon and buys a derelict farm at Stiffkey in Norfolk. It is very interesting to read of the state of farmland just before the war and the desperate toils he had to try to get it back to production. There are a few whiffs of a rather domineering character dealing with artisans who he feels are taking him for a ride, and some rather odd views of his looking back on a wealthier past, as his now elderly Alvis sports car is used to tow stuff from Devon to Norfolk. I have now lost my copy, in the retreat from a rather difficult job, but it is a good book to read with your eyes open to his revealing story.

He attended rallies at Nuremburg and joined Oswald Mosely's Blackshirts, and I think some of this shows in the Norfolk farm book.

He also wrote a many volumed set of a life history of someone he had worked with/ was in-lawed to, the series is all known as "Chronicles of Ancient Sunlight" or something quite close to that. Some volumes are very good indeed, I have not read them all.

A complex man, he wrote some very moving stuff and had a great love of the countryside. Worth getting more of his books if you can find them.

[loripo]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

A complex man, he wrote some very moving stuff and had a great love of the countryside. Worth getting more of his books if you can find them.

There is a website dedicated to his writings, just enter his name, no spaces, all lower case, then co.uk... They also have some of his books for sale online.

[loripo]

I've just been looking at Lord John's thread about bats and replies from WABbers who have, like him, land or 'part of an island' and wanted to recommend reading 'Sea Room' by Adam Nicolson, about his life on the Shiants. As it says on the cover, the story of one man, three islands and half a million puffins. Such an interesting read...

[hammock monkey]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

He attended rallies at Nuremburg and joined Oswald Mosely's Blackshirts, and I think some of this shows in the Norfolk farm book.

A complex man, he wrote some very moving stuff and had a great love of the countryside. Worth getting more of his books if you can find them.

Wow, I never knew that. Its interesting to me to consider his views on people and wildlife, Tarka (and Kes) both affected me very deeply as a young lad and made me care little for people (that I felt had brought problems upon themselves) for many years.

Just bought myself a copy of Tarka to re-read, somehow Orwell's 1984 reminds me of the same spirit. Something about 'enjoying the fleeting moment, because life ends too soon' that I can't quite put my clumsy finger on.

cheers

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by loripo

Dare I mention 'the Wind in the Willows' - I know it's anthropomorphic (need a spell checker), but I nearly sold my soul at a school jumble sale for a copy of that when I was eleven
The other most favourite read is 'The Log from the Sea of Cortez' by John Steinbeck. Its based on his travels to collect marine samples with a scientist friend. Talks about the influence of the moon on sealife and lots of other fascinating bits. The quote I always remember is 'and so on and on to the shore, and to the point where the last wave, if you think from the sea, and the first if you think from the shore, touches and breaks. And it is important where you are thinking from'

Have to vote for the Log from the Sea of Cortez too. Big favourite of mine and Doc / Ed Ricketts is a hero. I thought it was brilliant when one of the best characters from Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday (which I read long before) turned out to be real. Great stuff

[loripo]

Another fascinating read, more recent 1992! - James Hamilton-Paterson's Seven-Tenths - also about 'the sea & its thresholds'. For a landlubber I seem to veer towards books about the sea. I used to have a set of Rachel Carsons books about the sea, which were really interesting. I learned all about the littoral and pelargic... Not sure they are in print now tho.