'I was much entertained last summer with a tame bat, which would take flies out of a person's hand.' Gilbert White's Natural History of Selborne (1789) reveals a world of wonders in nature. Over a period of twenty years White describes in minute detail the behaviour of animals through the changing seasons in the rural Hampshire parish of Selborne. He notes everything from the habits of an eccentric tortoise to the mysteries of bird migration and animal reproduction, with the purpose of inspiring others to observe their own ...
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'I was much entertained last summer with a tame bat, which would take flies out of a person's hand.' Gilbert White's Natural History of Selborne (1789) reveals a world of wonders in nature. Over a period of twenty years White describes in minute detail the behaviour of animals through the changing seasons in the rural Hampshire parish of Selborne. He notes everything from the habits of an eccentric tortoise to the mysteries of bird migration and animal reproduction, with the purpose of inspiring others to observe their own surroundings with the same pleasure and attention. Written as a series of letters, White's book has all the immediacy of an exchange with friends, yet it is crafted with compelling literary skill. His gossipy correspondence has delighted readers from Charles Darwin to Virginia Woolf, and it has been read as a nostalgic evocation of a pastoral vision, a model for local studies of plants and animals, and a precursor to modern ecology. This new edition includes contemporary illustrations, a contextualizing introduction, and an appendix of literary responses to the book. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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Seller's Description:
New. A collection of Gilbert White's letters to the explorer and naturalist Daines Barrington and the eminent zoologist Thomas Pennant-White's intellectual lifelines from his country-village home. This title presents an evocation of the lives of the flora and fauna of eighteenth-century England. Editor(s): Mabey, Richard. Num Pages: 320 pages, notes, maps, bibliography. BIC Classification: DNF; WN. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 198 x 130 x 15. Weight in Grams: 228. 1977. Paperback.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
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New. Contains: Unspecified. Oxford World's Classics . Includes unspecified. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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New. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 320 p. Penguin English Library. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. The Natural History of Selborne (1789)is written as a series of letters, which describe with wit and precision the flora and fauna White observes in his Hampshire parish. A classic of nature writing, this edition includes contemporary illustrations, a contextualizing introduction, and an appendix of readers' responses over 200 years. Editor(s): Secord, Anne. Series: Oxford World's Classics. Num Pages: 352 pages, 17 black and white. BIC Classification: 1DBKESH; WN. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 196 x 129...2016. Reissue. Paperback.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
This is an endlessly fascinating view of the Enlightenment mind. White was a considerable scholar who applied his gifts to classification and observation of the fauna (particularly birds) of the Hampshire and Sussex countryside. Those who love swallows will be delighted by his obvious partiality for this most elegant of fliers. The book takes the form of letters to rwo gentlemen naturalists.
Writing in the late 18th century, White inhabited a world where bustards were still to be found on thr Downs, and the Linnean system had a rival. He takes nothing on trust, observing and recording meticulously. It is to him that we owe the distinction between the willow-warbler and the chiffchaff, based on painstaking observation. His fascination with the hirondidae extends to the then vexed question of their winter abode. White undertakes attempts to discover where they could be sheltering, and is aware through reading an account by an American naturalist that bird hibernation can occur. Here is the scientific method at its best - he keeps up-to-date with research but continues to test the truth of assertions. At the same time all his work is lit with a sense of awe at the beauty and wonder of Creation.
KingJames
Jan 15, 2008
A dedicated observationalist, White presents a gentle review of evolution in one small area in exquisite detail while inviting the reader to wonder at the cosmic significance of change in a local place. Not for those interested in a quick, flashy read, but fascinating to anyone who glories in detail.
