Sign in with Facebook
Jenny Thomas's Reviews > Far Away and Long Ago
Far Away and Long Ago
by
by
Far Away and Long Ago W H Hudson (1841 – 1922)
Hated précis at beginning of chapters! Why? Annoying. Some stories were pointless.
The son of American settlers – he wrote the book in London (died penniless in Bayswater at 80) during 6 weeks of illness, its about his childhood in what is to become Argentina. They fought for independence from 1810 to 1818 – followed by a civil war til 1861. (and conflict with Chile)
It’s a fascinating view into a lost way of life – he was a naturalist and ornithologist and evokes a bird, animal and natural world.
Despite having little education – a moving, lyrical style. The death of his mother, his struggle with faith – search to become spiritual and his animism are beautifully and humblingly described. The animistic faculty (something divine in nature) is lost to civilized man? It’s a primitive faculty, a sense of an intelligence like our own a soul in plants. A delight in nature – a reverence, awe- intoxicated by the sounds, colours and scents – he heard snakes talking to one another.
He had a profound joy and happiness in living – though it was a brutal and violent world. The detail and passion are contagious – every day he went out to look - a magnificent sunset was sometimes more than he could endure.
The estrancias (landed estates) were in a state of decline – where they had once been prosperous and peaceful. 100year old books were relics of the past.
We learn nothing about the politics – though his family are threatened by defeated soldiers? (Slitting the throat of their captain)
No details about his family – not even their names, yet he describes his neighbours in great detail. How could he remember their names, clothes, the shape of their noses, colour and shallow? eyes, skin, hair, home made clothes? Painted by memory in strong, unfading colours
The Saladero – the killing grounds – lasooed, hamstrung, throat cutting ritual by gauchos – terrible bellowing of cattle, horrible stink, feet of crusted blood, offal and bones – the plantations had walls of skulls. The water had red clay and mosquito lava in it in Buenos Ares – one drunk the wrigglers – typhus.
He says he didn’t have the intellect or strength of will as his brother, but was ashamed of his indolence and ignorance and refusing to part with childish things – only ever read 3 books, though 3-400 books in his house. When young – one feels immortal – clear and vigorous mind – untroubled by death and afterlife – worshipped nature not God – struggled to become spiritual – not convinced by Darwin, but this brief he became an evolutionist.
Hated précis at beginning of chapters! Why? Annoying. Some stories were pointless.
The son of American settlers – he wrote the book in London (died penniless in Bayswater at 80) during 6 weeks of illness, its about his childhood in what is to become Argentina. They fought for independence from 1810 to 1818 – followed by a civil war til 1861. (and conflict with Chile)
It’s a fascinating view into a lost way of life – he was a naturalist and ornithologist and evokes a bird, animal and natural world.
Despite having little education – a moving, lyrical style. The death of his mother, his struggle with faith – search to become spiritual and his animism are beautifully and humblingly described. The animistic faculty (something divine in nature) is lost to civilized man? It’s a primitive faculty, a sense of an intelligence like our own a soul in plants. A delight in nature – a reverence, awe- intoxicated by the sounds, colours and scents – he heard snakes talking to one another.
He had a profound joy and happiness in living – though it was a brutal and violent world. The detail and passion are contagious – every day he went out to look - a magnificent sunset was sometimes more than he could endure.
The estrancias (landed estates) were in a state of decline – where they had once been prosperous and peaceful. 100year old books were relics of the past.
We learn nothing about the politics – though his family are threatened by defeated soldiers? (Slitting the throat of their captain)
No details about his family – not even their names, yet he describes his neighbours in great detail. How could he remember their names, clothes, the shape of their noses, colour and shallow? eyes, skin, hair, home made clothes? Painted by memory in strong, unfading colours
The Saladero – the killing grounds – lasooed, hamstrung, throat cutting ritual by gauchos – terrible bellowing of cattle, horrible stink, feet of crusted blood, offal and bones – the plantations had walls of skulls. The water had red clay and mosquito lava in it in Buenos Ares – one drunk the wrigglers – typhus.
He says he didn’t have the intellect or strength of will as his brother, but was ashamed of his indolence and ignorance and refusing to part with childish things – only ever read 3 books, though 3-400 books in his house. When young – one feels immortal – clear and vigorous mind – untroubled by death and afterlife – worshipped nature not God – struggled to become spiritual – not convinced by Darwin, but this brief he became an evolutionist.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Far Away and Long Ago.
Sign In »
