The Grassling
The Grassling by Elizabeth-Jane Burnett, published by National Geographic Books on May 26, 2020, is a 208-page exploration of connection to place and memory. This work delves into the author’s reflections inspired by her father’s declining health and the history of his small Devon village, weaving together themes of natural history and personal experience.
Readers will find a narrative that emphasizes the relationship between land and identity, illustrating how the environment influences our sense of belonging. The book presents a rich tapestry of memories and language, capturing the essence of the countryside through vivid descriptions. With its focus on biography, personal memoirs, and the interplay of history and place, The Grassling invites contemplation on the shifting nature of roots and the enduring impact of the landscapes we inhabit.
Official synopsis Publisher
‘A subtle, moving celebration of place and connectedness . . . The Grassling brings the sounds, smells and sights of the countryside alive like few other books. Burnett stretches the limits of prose, infusing it with poetic intensity to create a powerful, original voice’ PD Smith, Guardian
What fills my lungs is wider than breath could be. It is a place and a language torn, matted and melded; flowered and chiming with bones. That breath is that place and until I get there I will not really be breathing.
Spurred on by her father’s declining health and inspired by the history he once wrote of his small Devon village, Elizabeth-Jane Burnett delves through layers of memory, language and natural history to tell a powerful story of how the land shapes us and speaks to us. The Grassling is a book about roots: what it means to belong when the soil beneath our feet is constantly shifting, when the people and places that nurtured us are slipping away.
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