DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Always Coming Home

Anthropological tales from a fictional future

Ursula K Le Guin author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Orion Publishing Co

Published:14th Jul '16

Should be back in stock very soon

Always Coming Home cover

This imaginative work presents the culture and stories of the Kesh, a fictional community, through a blend of poetry, recipes, and narratives in Always Coming Home.

In Always Coming Home, the reader is transported to a distant future where the Kesh, a fictional people, inhabit the valleys of what was once Northern California. This narrative does not merely recount the lives of the Kesh; instead, it presents a rich tapestry of their culture through a collection of stories, poems, songs, and recipes. The book serves as an anthropological exploration of a community that exists solely in the imagination of its author, Ursula K. Le Guin.

Le Guin's work invites readers to immerse themselves in the traditions and beliefs of the Kesh. Each piece contributes to a broader understanding of their way of life, shedding light on their values, struggles, and joys. The structure of Always Coming Home allows for a multifaceted view of this fictional society, encouraging readers to ponder the implications of culture, identity, and storytelling.

Ultimately, Always Coming Home stands as a testament to the power of narrative. It challenges conventional storytelling by blending fiction with anthropological insight, creating a unique reading experience. Through the lens of the Kesh, Le Guin explores themes of community, connection to the land, and the importance of preserving stories for future generations.

Lyric and luminous . . . a major imaginative vision - The New York Times Book Review

An appealing book as well as a masterly one . . . The future world she has created here is awesomely complex - Newsweek

The effect it has on the reader is hypnotic . . . Le Guin has chosen a most original way to reveal this imagined land - People

ISBN: 9781473205802

Dimensions: 198mm x 132mm x 45mm

Weight: 380g

544 pages