Nature Writing from Richard Lee Fulgham

"Loren Eiseley would have loved this book. It's a nature book for nature lovers. The Embracing Woods concerns a young naturalist growing up in a small 1950's town snuggled up to Georgia's Pine Mountain, part of the Great Pine Forest. The book remembers the boys, beasts and bullies -- the escapes into the woods to find peace and wisdom. It's about animal behavior observed and the boy's realization that animal behavior and human behavior are intimately related -- indeed the same. It's also beautifully written. God bless the boys and beasts of Fulgham's pine forest."

Roger de Rageot, Dr. Sci.(Sorbonne) Professor Emeritus,

former Curator, Norfolk Museum of Natural History

The Embracing Woods by Richard Lee Fulgham is more than a return to simpler times; it is one man's journey of the soul wherein he seeks to pass on what he has learned to the present and future generations by means of philosophical insight inspired by a profound love of Nature. For it is Nature that both tempers and explains everything... at least in this Author's eyes. From early encounters with creatures in the woods, to the realities of war and the perplexities of the modern world, Nature remains the one constant.

Yet the Reader should not feel obliged to summon up comparisons of the great debates concerning Nature and Man by delving into the works of the French Philosophes or perhaps even of Thoreau or Leopold when analysing this work. Rather, it seems that what we have here is fundamentally a good story to be enjoyed by all ages. That it is based in Philosophy merely lends an additional and deeper dimension should the Reader so choose.

The narrative flows at a goodly pace but what struck me was the potential to ignite a child's imagination. This really is a book to be shared. For example, how often do we encourage young people to really "see" things? It seems that these days the "near enough is good enough" mentality steals away true appreciation of what youngsters actually absorb into their minds. Writers look at a pool and immediately a whole new world opens up. A child looks at a pool and sees... a pool. So often there is nothing of the sensory experience or even the attention to detail that Fulgham gives:

"The water had pooled in a deep trench cut through red clay. It was about ten feet in length, four or five feet across, about two feet deep and was bordered on both shores by perpendicular clay shelves rising five or six feet from the surface of the water. Someone years before had tried to bridge the ravine with an old wooden door, which had eventually fallen into the little gorge lengthwise to make a platform over one end of the pool."

So few will develop with that sensory appreciation and sadly, not all youngsters are able to go out in the woods and experience the things in this book. However, perhaps with a little encouragement, they will "see" them in their minds... and hearts. Adults will also savour the simplicity and honesty of this book and perhaps some memories will stir in them of their own journey towards coming of age in the human world. The lessons to be learnt are not glossed over; but are presented with raw realism in a frighteningly accurate assessment of the world in which we now exist. It is a world we all delude ourselves by thinking we understand it.

That's why every now and then we need a book like this to come along and open up our hearts, to bring back the memories and perhaps to bring reality back into check. The stories are short and well-written in a voice that that will honestly have you in awe of "The Goat Man", repulsed by the mother snake and her babies being devoured by another of their species, fascinated yet saddened by the way men are forced to act in war... and more. L P King, Mountain Mist Productions

ABOUT RICHARD LEE FULGHAM

BIO: An American born in Dachau, Germany, raised in Georgia during 1950's & 1960's. Navy -- served on board USS RALEIGH during Vietnam era. BA from Columbus State College, Georgia. MA from University of Kentucky. Snake keeper at Atlanta Zoo; laborer; factory worker; freelance writer; police photographer; lastly spent two decades as newpaper writer. Published in National U.S. magazines, including Sports Afield, etc. Published Appalachian Genesis (TN: Overmountain, 2001) and Man's Laughter (MD: PA Books, 2004). Now working at school for profoundly retarded children in Bel Air, MD. Married to Janet, a teacher.

More about Richard Lee Fulgham

Read a Story from The Embracing Woods by Richard Lee Fulgham

COME DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH RICHARD LEE FULGHAM

The Embracing Woods

by Richard Lee Fulgham

E-Book Item Number 0021

$9.95 AUD

Print Book Item Number 0034

ISBN 1 920913 11 4

$25.00 AUD

This a SPECIAL - price will rise in the New Year