Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

With a foreword by Kathleen Jamie. Trees can evoke powerful feelings. For Henry David Thoreau, the woods are places beyond civilisation; for Ursula Le Guin and J. R. R. Tolkien, they are loaded with otherworldly potential; and for those fleeing captivity, they can provide a welcome sanctuary. Woods can strike fear. They can inspire wonder. They can be lovely, dark and deep. John Miller builds upon the ecological arguments for saving forests to raise the compelling question of their cultural value, with beautiful illustrations from the British Library’s unparalleled collections of books and manuscripts. This book roams freely across literature and culture from around the world, weaving in personal memoir, to explore why woods matter to us. In the midst of a climate crisis, there is hope to be found in our deeply emotional connection to trees, and the instinct it awakens in us to value and protect them.