Name: The Worm Forgives the Plough By John Stewart Collis
SKU: 9780099529484
Price: 3.70 GBP
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The Worm Forgives the Plough Summary

The Worm Forgives the Plough by John Stewart Collis

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT MACFARLANE

During the Second World War, John Stewart Collis volunteered to leave his comfortable life as an academic to work on the land for the war effort. His account of this time perfectly captures the soft-handed, city-dweller's naivety and wonder both at the workings of nature and the toughness of life on a farm. It's set in the south of England and comprises exquisitely written sections on whatever happens to take Collis's fancy and inspire his thoughtful curiosity, ranging from humorous sketches of the characters he works alongside; mini-essays such as 'Contemplation upon Ants', The Mystery of Clouds', 'Colloquy on the Rick', 'Meditation while Singling Mangolds', 'The Garden of Eden'; and celebrations of the earthworm, pea and potato. His mind ranges far and wide through literature science and philosophy as well as amazing descriptive writing, which makes for a book that is as uncategorisable as it is enchanting.

The Worm Forgives the Plough Reviews

He is the poet among modern ecologists, a natural philosopher who , whether he is writing about trees or rainbows, an iceberg or a piece of chalk, never takes a fact without linking it to an idea, or an idea without connecting it to a fact. His book dispenses information in the language of the imagination, and by peeling back the film by which everything appears dully familiar, reveals a vision of the world miraculously transfigured -- Michael Holroyd * The Times *
Collis' divine gift is to explain the extraordinary nature of the ordinary * Sunday Times *
A philosopher who had a shining view of the natural world, and was able to divine the magic inherent in phenomena so commonplace that we take them for granted * Guardian *
These jottings establish the man as one of the greatest recorders of English agricultural life -- Val Hennessey * Daily Mail *
A little classic * The Oldie *

About John Stewart Collis

John Stewart Collis was born in 1900. His father was a Dublin solicitor and Collis was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford. In 1925 he published a biography of George Bernard Shaw and he later went on to write other biographical works and also became a pioneer of the ecological movement in Britain. During the Second World War his wife and daughters were evacuated to the United States and he worked for the Land Army as an agricultural labourer - accompanied by his beloved dog, Bindo. His memoirs and meditations on rural life, While Following the Plough (1946) and Down to Earth (1947) were first published together as The Worm Forgives the Plough in 1973, which has become a classic of nature writing.

Additional information

Sku

GOR001563305

ISBN 13

9780099529484

ISBN 10

0099529483

Title

The Worm Forgives the Plough by John Stewart Collis

Author

John Stewart Collis

Condition

Used - Very Good

Binding type

Paperback

Publisher

Vintage Publishing

Year published

20090305

Number of pages

304

Prizes

N/A

Cover note

Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.

Note

This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

The Worm Forgives the Plough John Stewart Collis

The Worm Forgives the Plough by John Stewart Collis

Summary

The Worm Forgives the Plough Summary

The Worm Forgives the Plough by John Stewart Collis

The Worm Forgives the Plough Reviews

About John Stewart Collis

Additional information

Customer Reviews - The Worm Forgives the Plough