HEART OF THE FOREST

A glamorous and beautifully illustrated British Library publication written by the Senior Lecturer in 19th Century Literature at the University of Sheffield. Looking at threats to the forest life across the globe, John Miller draws on literature, film and art to explore why woods matter to us, building on the ecological case for saving trees to raise the compelling question of their cultural value. His book explores four enduring ways in which we connect to the woods - through Refuge, Sacredness, Horror and Hope - making fascinating links between emotion and genre. For Henry David Thoreau, the woods are places beyond civilisation; for Ursula Le Guin, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis, they are loaded with otherworldly potential; and for those fleeing captivity, they can provide a welcome sanctuary. Woods can strike fear, inspire wonder, be lovely, dark and deep, and these beautifully illustrated pages present a moving argument for conservation and renewal. From the poetry of W. B. Yeats to the spirit inhabitants of forests in Guyana, weaving in personal memoir, the book explores why woods matter to us and in the midst of a climate crisis there is hope to be found in our deeply emotional connection to trees. Nearly 100 colour and woodcut illustrations and photographs. 288pp, 15.25 x 23.5cm.