☰

Literature & Fiction

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

R 628

or 4 x payments of R157.00 with Payflex

Payflex

Availability: Currently in Stock

Delivery: 10-20 working days

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

Few writers have attempted to explore the natural history of a particular animal by adopting the animalâ€™s own sensibility. But Verlyn Klinkenborgâ€”with his deeply empathetic relation to the world around himâ€”has done just that, and done it brilliantly, in Timothy.

This is the story of a tortoise whose real life was observed by the eighteenth-century English curate Gilbert White, author of The Natural History of Selborne. For thirteen years, Timothy lived in Whiteâ€™s gardenâ€”making an occasional appearance in his journals. Now Klinkenborg gives the tortoise an unforgettable voice and powers of observation as keen as those of any bipedal naturalist. The happy result: Timothy regales us with an account of a gracefully paced (no unseemly hurry!) eight-day adventure outside the gate (â€œHow do I escape from that nimble-tongued, fleet-footed race? . . . Walk through the holes in their attentionâ€) and entertains us with shrewd observations about the curious habits and habitations of humanity. â€œTo humans,â€ Timothy says with doleful understanding, â€œin and out are matters of life and death. Not to me. Warm earth waits just beneath me. . . . The humansâ€™ own heat keeps them from sensing it.â€

Wry and wise, unexpectedly moving, and enchanting at everyâ€”carefulâ€”turn, Timothy will surprise and delight readers of all ages.

Country	USA
Author	Verlyn Klinkenborg
Binding	Hardcover
Brand	Brand: Knopf
EAN	9780679407287
Feature	Used Book in Good Condition
ISBN	0679407286
Label	Knopf
Manufacturer	Knopf
NumberOfItems	1
NumberOfPages	192
PublicationDate	2006-02-07
Publisher	Knopf
ReleaseDate	2006-02-07
Studio	Knopf

You might also like...

More Scenes from the Rural Life

More Scenes from the Rural Life

The Rural Life

The Natural History of Selborne

The Natural History of Selborne