The chapter Snow and Peat reveal the two different human beings. Over the book's course, via its chapters, its glossaries and surprise of its postscript - we come to realize that words, well used, are not just a means to describe landscape, but also a way to know it, and to love it'-from publisher. In the book The Old Ways Robert Macfarlane shows exactly how he is a nature writer. It is both a field guide to the literature the author loves (Nan Shepherd, Roger Deakin and many more), and a 'word-hoard', gathering an astonishing archive of place-terms from old Norse to Anglo-Romani, living Norman to Hebridean Gaelic. From the author of The Old Ways and Underland, an 'eloquent (and compulsively readable) reminder that, though were laying waste the world, nature still holds sway over much of the earths surface.'. Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize 2012 The genre-defining book by acclaimed nature writer Robert Macfarlane.

'Landmarks is a book about the power of language - 'strong style, single words' - to shape our sense of place. 'Explores the landscape of the British Isles through its ancient place names, interspersed with biographical essays on some of the author's favorite writers who have paid close attention to the natural world.'-Provided by publisher. The word-hoard - A counter-desecration phrasebook - The living mountain - The woods and the water - Hunting life - The tunnel of swords and axes - North-minded - Bastard countryside - Stone-books - The black locust and the silver pine - Childish. Includes bibliographical references (pages 413-417) and index. Landscapes - Great Britain - Terminology.Įnglish language - Variation - Great Britain. Macfarlane, Robert, 1976- Travel - Great Britain.

The old ways robert macfarlane summary