The Long Spring
Tracking the Arrival of Spring Through Europe
Published on 19. March 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-1-4729-3668-4 (ISBN)
Description
Exploring Europe's remarkable heritage of exceptional places and the wildlife, traditions and people associated with them, in February 2016 Laurence Rose crossed the Mediterranean from North Africa and set off on a series of journeys northwards towards the Arctic coast of Norway, all the while keeping pace with the arrival of spring.
Like a modern-day pilgrimage, he is accompanied by fellow wayfarers, migrating swallows and cranes and later, wild swans and eagles. He witnesses the awakening of a continent from its winter slumber and encounters new behaviours, such as storks that no longer migrate, exploring how they link to climate change. From Spain, Laurence headed north through France and Britain. Crossing over to Sweden, Finland and Norway, he ended his travels four months later as the long Arctic days stretched into continuous daylight.
In The Long Spring, Laurence evokes the landscapes, sounds and colours of the continent at its most vibrant. And as a lifelong naturalist, his journeys tracking the world's most significant and beautiful phenomenon - spring - were a chance to explore the past, present and future of our connections to nature, reflecting on three decades of work and travel in Europe and his own long relationship with wildlife.
Like a modern-day pilgrimage, he is accompanied by fellow wayfarers, migrating swallows and cranes and later, wild swans and eagles. He witnesses the awakening of a continent from its winter slumber and encounters new behaviours, such as storks that no longer migrate, exploring how they link to climate change. From Spain, Laurence headed north through France and Britain. Crossing over to Sweden, Finland and Norway, he ended his travels four months later as the long Arctic days stretched into continuous daylight.
In The Long Spring, Laurence evokes the landscapes, sounds and colours of the continent at its most vibrant. And as a lifelong naturalist, his journeys tracking the world's most significant and beautiful phenomenon - spring - were a chance to explore the past, present and future of our connections to nature, reflecting on three decades of work and travel in Europe and his own long relationship with wildlife.
Reviews / Votes
No book has made me want to sprout wings and fly quite like Laurence Rose's modern classic as it chronicles nature's progress from winter slumber to verdant awakening in language so beautiful it sings. -- Stuart Winter * Sunday Express * As a detailed primer to the world above our heads, The Long Spring makes for an inspiring, eye-opening read. And Rose is as affable and informed a guide as you could hope for. -- Oliver Balch * The Spectator * Rose is excellent on the science that informs our understanding ... His ear for the sounds of birds is exceptional, while his ability to render their spring songs in precise language is among the foremost pleasures of the book. Impressive. -- Mark Cocker * New Statesman * I will dip into The Long Spring for years to come, to sit with the author in some out of the way edgeland in Europe, marvelling at the many delights that fill the air, and learning more about this quirky, richly rewarding continent. * Mary Colwell * Intelligent and thoughtful, and a very good read. * Mark Avery * Uplifting, especially if our own spring is slow in arriving -- Sue Price * Saga * In this glorious celebration of spring, Laurence Rose makes a journey from the Mediterranean shores of Morocco to the tundra of Arctic Scandinavia. In between, he entertains us with his immense love, knowledge and wisdom about birds, as well as the clamour from two billion pairs of wings. -- Mark CockerMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
7 linocut maps and 1 linocut illustration
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-4729-3668-4 (9781472936684)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
LAURENCE ROSE is a naturalist and conservationist whose work has ranged from creating urban greenspace to advocating global treaties. He has worked for the RSPB in roles as diverse as nature reserve management, international capacity building and community engagement. Laurence is also active in the arts, as a creator, curator and administrator, often working with artists inspired by nature.