The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane & Jackie Morris

I have never been able to say that a book took my breath away; after encountering The Lost Words I am no longer able to say that.

It is not that the book whisked my breath away, but rather that the magic of the book entranced me while I was looking at and reading it my autonomic nervous system slowed and I forgot to draw breath, until my body, starved of oxygen, demanded that I inhale.

Through some subtle alchemy Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris have captured some of the magic of the wild on fragile pieces of paper. With his words, in verse so spare that not a word is wasted nor extra ones required Robert has written the movement of the animals and captured the essence the floral kingdom in ways that I have never encountered in print before before. Jackie, whose work I have adored for years has truly outdone herself, I keep expecting the animals to dart off the page and the gentle breeze to whistle through the brambles or conkers and acorns to fall from their branches.

The Lost Words is a memory of the wild and a reminder of the potency of words that exist and should not be forgotten.

4 Thoughts on “The Lost Words by Robert MacFarlane & Jackie Morris

  1. Tracy Hager on October 11, 2017 at 12:07 pm said:

    Agree! I treated myself to this book for my birthday. Political, important and stunning.

  2. Jane Morris on October 11, 2017 at 12:32 pm said:

    lovely post for a lovely, nay, stunning book

  3. I really want this book! I love Jackie Morris’ work and this seems to be so perfect,.

  4. Jane Morris on October 12, 2017 at 2:46 pm said:

    it is! Have bought a copy for the school library and one for me personally…

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