England : A Natural History - Signed First Edition
England : A Natural History - Signed First Edition
by Lewis-Stempel, John | England
Published 03/10/2024 by Transworld Publishers Ltd (Doubleday) in the United Kingdom
Hardback | 464 pages, b/w line illustrations and map
240 x 156mm | 750g
Signed First Edition - Hardback - Publishes October 3rd
In a stunning package, complete with decorated boards, endpapers, chapterheads and a map, England: A Natural History is the definitive volume on the English landscape and the capstone of John Lewis-Stempel's nature writing.
Our countryside is iconic: a series of distinctive habitats that unite to create a landscape that is unique for the rich diversity of our flora and fauna. In England, his most magisterial book to date, John Lewis-Stempel explores each in turn, taking us from coast to moor, from downs to field, from the park to the village to create a vivid living portrait of our natural history.
In his trademark lyrical prose, Lewis-Stempel reveals the hidden workings of each habitat: the clear waters and dragonflies; the bluebells, badgers and stag beetles; wild thyme; granite cliffs; rock pools and sandy beaches; red deer standing at ancient oaks; the wayside flowers of the lane; hedgehogs and hares; and snow on the high peak. Each landscape - be it calm green or wild moor, plunging cliff or flatland fen - has shaped our idea of ourselves, our sense of what it is to be in England.
‘John Lewis-Stempel is the hottest nature writer around.’ – Spectator‘
His immense, patient powers of observation – along with a flair for the anthropomorphic – mean he is able to offer a portrait of animal life that's rare in its colour and drama.’ – Observer
‘That John Lewis-Stempel is one of the best nature writers of his generation is undisputed.’ – Country Life
‘I love the earthiness of John Lewis-Stempel's writing … The author has seen it, done it, sweated it, and has earned the right to write about it with straw-cut fingers and itchy palms. Brilliant stuff.’ – Christopher Somerville, walking correspondent for The Times
‘It’s his observation of the natural world – the sight, the sound, the smell of it – that is so memorable. He has a distinctively brisk, muscular style of writing that has a poetic intensity and concision. – Guardian‘
Lewis-Stempel sees and hears things others will never see and hear, and he can write about them as no one else can.’– Daily Mail'