England

A Natural History

John Lewis-Stempel author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Transworld Publishers Ltd

Published:3rd Oct '24

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in other editions too:

England cover

'A brilliant gift for anyone who loves the countryside' - Independent

'A masterpiece' - Daily Mail


‘Britain's finest nature writer’ – Telegraph

'
Assured and expert countryside writing' -TLS


‘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



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In a stunning package, with specially commissioned illustration 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.

The English 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.

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.

By our very finest nature writer ... a pastoral symphony, a masterpiece, and a very English love letter. -- Christopher Hart * Daily Mail *
In an age when it seems that nothing has been left unscathed by our bulldozing technological advances, John Lewis-Stempel offers a breath of fresh (and natural) air. * The Times *
It is now expected of the modern nature writer to draw together landscape, wildlife, history and culture, but few – if any – do it as deftly as Lewis-Stempel does here … There is still a place for this kind of assured and expert countryside writing. Not just a place, but acres of room. -- Richard Smythe * Times Literary Supplement *
BOOK OF THE MONTH: erudite and highly informative packed with humorous, quirky details…a brilliant gift for anyone who loves the countryside. -- Martin Chilton * The Independent *
He combines Jefferies’s way of looking closely with W. H. Hudson’s wide-roaming curiosity. That he champions them and the likes of ‘BB’ and the Revd Gilbert White in these pages is no surprise. All of them, like the author, were true country souls. This is a book to sit on the shelf beside theirs and not be overshadowed. -- Jack Watkins * Country Life *

ISBN: 9780857526472

Dimensions: 241mm x 161mm x 40mm

Weight: 689g

464 pages