I love his writing in The Once & Future King. The animal, feral experience achieves such strangeness & power. And unbearable sadness. The hedgehog’s farewell.
Seems like an interesting book. I completely agree with your point about letting the person speak for him or herself. (To use an American example, the best writing in almost any book on the Civil War comes in the quotations of Lincoln's own speeches and letters.)
Re: White, I loved The Once and Future King as a young man but the book of his I've found most interesting and most useful as an adult is his complete translation of a medieval bestiary. I've drawn upon it quite a bit in my own writing.
As the author of a book that quoted two people whose works were still under copyright, I can only shiver at the thought of how much she must have shelled out for all those quotations. One of the most frequent criticisms I get is "You should have printed more from their letters!" Well, sir or ma'am, should I ever become heir to a fortune, I'll consider it. :-)
Totally agree about ULK. Wonderful stuff! Will be reading more before I write about her. Can’t stand that Hawk book. So much fine writing. He was a bit like that, I think. Strongly recommend the book of you’re interested in him.
I love his writing in The Once & Future King. The animal, feral experience achieves such strangeness & power. And unbearable sadness. The hedgehog’s farewell.
Any similarities to J A Baker, The Peregrine?
I found The Peregrine unreadable...
I remember reading The Goshawk as a young boy and feeling transported to another world, full of magic and life.
It’s now on my list
Seems like an interesting book. I completely agree with your point about letting the person speak for him or herself. (To use an American example, the best writing in almost any book on the Civil War comes in the quotations of Lincoln's own speeches and letters.)
Re: White, I loved The Once and Future King as a young man but the book of his I've found most interesting and most useful as an adult is his complete translation of a medieval bestiary. I've drawn upon it quite a bit in my own writing.
I *really* want to spend a day with that bestiary.
As the author of a book that quoted two people whose works were still under copyright, I can only shiver at the thought of how much she must have shelled out for all those quotations. One of the most frequent criticisms I get is "You should have printed more from their letters!" Well, sir or ma'am, should I ever become heir to a fortune, I'll consider it. :-)
She was asked to write it by the estate so I guess not a problem for her
Oh yeah, that would help!
Totally agree about ULK. Wonderful stuff! Will be reading more before I write about her. Can’t stand that Hawk book. So much fine writing. He was a bit like that, I think. Strongly recommend the book of you’re interested in him.