"In common things are greater extensions of ourselves than we ever
conceived of."
"Life on earth springs from a collateral magic that we rarely
consult," observes John Hay, naturalist, essayist, sage, and
inveterate walker of byways. This collection from the 50-year long
career of America's preeminent nature writer illustrates the full
range of Hay's work. An elegant and lyrical stylist, he is, in
Merrill's words, "the nature writer's writer, an illustrator of the
Emersonian notion that 'the world is emblematic.'"
And so Hay reveals the ubiquitous but often unnoticed emblems all
around us. The mad, impossible rush of alewives flinging themselves
upstream to mate, for example, represents "the drive to be, a
common and terrible sending out, to which men are also bound in
helplessness." In the migratory movements of the terns and the
green turtles past his beloved Cape Cod Hay sees the mystery and
magnificence of homing: "To know your direction and return through
outer signs, is as new as it is ancient. We are still people of the
planet, with all its original directions waiting in our being."
Whether describing the rugosa or bayberry of a sand dune, the
plight of stranded pilot whales, or a spider swinging on its
gossamer, Hay encourages us to enlarge our inner universe by
observing, appreciating, and preserving the outer one we so often
ignore. As a result, he says, "we may find that we are being led
onto traveled ways that were once invisible to us," and by
recognizing our "deep alliance with natural forces we find a new
depth in ourselves. This is the common ground for all living
things."
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(4)
