This series of books (15 in all that make up A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight) is a wonderful journey of discovery, history and vivid storytelling. Williamson's novel is brilliant. Each volume stands on its own, but is best read from the beginning to truly experience the cycle of Phillip Maddison's (and one's own in some way) life. Volume 15, The Gale of the World, makes one want to start again from the beginning. An epic tale. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Few can claim to have read "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight," a mighty, mighty work that Henry Williamson wrote during 1951-1969, comprising the following books: (1) The Dark Lantern (2) Donkey Boy (3) Young Philip Maddison (4) How Dear is Life (5) A Fox Under My Cloak (6) The Golden Virgin (7) Love and the Loveless (8) A Test to Destruction (9) The Innocent Moon (10) It Was the Nightingale (11) The Phoenix Generation (12) The Power of the Dead (13) A Solitary War (14) Lucifer Before Sunrise (15) The Gale of the World

The pivotal character in this work is Philip Maddison, the phases of whose life are portrayed from book 2 and thereafter, through his schooldays [no Evelyn Waugh, he], involvement in the war, love affairs and various attempts at farming in the Devon countryside. Williamson's style is akin to Thomas Hardy, especially in the lengthy nature descriptions throughout the work. At times, Williamson allows an almost obsessive [autobiographical??] bitterness to overwhelm the plot development in the second half of the work and overtake the portrayal of Philip Maddison. Still, the work has great merit and should be read as a whole, though it weighs in at 7,000-8,000 pages. Highly recommended

This series of books (15 in all that make up A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight) is a wonderful journey of discovery, history and vivid storytelling. Williamson's novel is brilliant. Each volume stands on its own, but is best read from the beginning (Volume 1 - The Dark Lantern) to truly experience the cycle of Phillip Maddison's (and one's own in some way) life. Volume 15, The Gale of the World, makes one want to start again from the beginning. An epic tale. Also see henrywilliamson.org for more information on "The Chronicle" and HW's many other works. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Brilliant piece of work from a brilliant author. Williamson's loyalty to Europe and the furthering of Germanic culture has left much of his work (like 'The Gale Of The World')unread due to a type of blacklisting by the intellectual community of post-war Europe. I reccomend this work to anyone who wishes to read an eloquent piece of work by one of the greatest naturalist writers of this century (or any!).

Teachers and parents, don't miss this art resource for your kids! The author has done a wonderful job of compiling a variety of activities using a variety of materials, at a range of skill levels. I have completed a few of these projects with students aged 6-16, and they have turned out great. The materials are easily obtained, the projects generally uncomplicated, and the instructions clearly illustrated and easy to follow.

Projects include designs and pictures made with paint, glue, string, sand, cut-out paper shapes, markers, foil, beans, macaroni, glitter, plants, fabric. Techniques include drawing, experimenting with shape, line, texture and color, contrasting shapes and colors, stamping, splatter and spin, weaving, shadowboxes, 3-D sculptures of various materials, crayon resist, sponge painting. Not only can all these projects keep your kids being creative, they really turn out attractive. I have several art books for children by this same publisher and they are all excellent.

Fabulous and fantastic!!! I teach K-8 at a Catholic school and this book is an invaluable resource. The projects are incredibly fun and easy to understand ( with step-by-step instructions and illustrations also rated with a level for different ages and abilites) and at the same time very educational in teaching color, design, and texture.

Please see my complete review of "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight" under the heading "A Fox Under My Cloak."

Please see my complete review of Williamson's "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight" under the heading entitled "A Fox Under My Cloak."

At the very point in which Philip Maddison appears to have found a true love in his life, tragedy intercepts it. A beautiful novel of the highest caliber in Williamson's "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight." Please see my complete review of this entire saga under the heading of the book entitled "A Fox Under My Cloak."

Henry Williamson's semi-autobiographical account of a young soldier in World War I continues through 1917 in this stark and terrifying, yet beautifully sensitive book. Ideally, read the preceding volumes of "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight" before "Love and the Loveless". Otherwise, one cannot fully appreciate Williamson's skill in the character development of his hero Phillip, and of the surrounding cast of family, friends and fellow soldiers

This moving and sincere final volume of "A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight", covers the massive German offensives of Spring 1918. Phillip at last gains the self-confidence to assert himself as a leader on the battlefield, but is wounded again, and sits out the final months of the war. At first, peace brings only bitter disillusion with the futility of the sacrifices endured. And then, slowly, realization that the human spirit can prevail over even that excess of tragedy

My mom bought me this book when I was ten I immediately thought it was going to be a good book as it had a charming front cover showing an innocent looking otter. Tarka is a sweet young otter and the book is like his life story in a way his life is like a human's . He is born ,he grows up,he loves he loses and he dies. The discription of him and his surroundings create a vivid picture in the readers mind. It really is a charming story and I would recommend this to anyone who loves animals and/or reading.

I really loved this book. It really did a wonderful job of showing how joyful Tarka's life was, and how, even when he was hunted, his life was still joyful. I highly recommend this book!

Tarka the Otter is written very descriptively, from an otter's point of view. It's similar to Watership Down, but Tarka's thought is much less anthropomorphized than that of the characters in Watership Down. You'll find this book quite sad in places, perhaps even upsettingly so, because of the realistic (and unfair) interactions Tarka and others have with English hunters and their dogs a few times (such is life). If you cried at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows, beware. If you are unfamiliar with the endearing antics of members of the weasel family, you are in for an educational and fun treat. Perhaps you'll run out and get a ferret after this.

This book provided hours of fun for my four-year-old. We were pleased that we always had simple household items and paper to complete the projects.This book can be used as ajumping off point to many other creative projects.

All that is needed are these three items, and you can make the cutest crafts! Because of the easy supply list, we use this book so much more often than other books that you might not have the needed supplies on hand for. This one we keep right in the kitchen and the children can make things whenever they like! we just got it for Christmas and have already made lots of the projects! and there is room to be creative - just using the ideas as examples and taking it from there.

For the last several years my summer school has included art every day for students whose ages range from 6-13. This book has an excellent selection of art projects that are appropriate for all these ages. Everything is made using construction paper, scissors and glue, which are readily available in the school supply room, are inexpensive and easy to work with. The projects turn out bright and colorful. My class has just completed a lively mural of a pond habitat after making fun frogs, fish, turtles and other aquatic creatures and plants, using ideas from the book.

I love the instructions and lay-out of the book. The steps and resulting project are clearly shown in large drawings with minimal text, so it just takes a few minutes to read through each project.

Some of the projects feature geometrical designs and patterns, which allow substantial room for creativity, some fold and curve paper to make them three dimensional. There is a good variety of themes including animals, seasons, nature, a still life, a robot, and a couple of cultural items. Although I haven't done it yet, the Panamanian mola looks like it will turn out stunning.

If I want to stick to using paper, glue and scissors for my art classes, this book will give us plenty of fun and attractive projects to do for several weeks. Parents will also find it a great source for young artists at home.