by Mary Oliver
First published 1995
Mary Oliver gathers fifteen prose pieces that reveal her deep connection to the natural world and the craft of writing. The poet examines her relationship with wilderness, celebrates literary figures like Whitman, and reflects on the people who shape her life. She searches for extraordinary moments in ordinary places and argues against superficial cuteness in favor of authentic observation. Oliver admits her work carries bias and strong opinions alongside joy and occasional despair. She credits three sustaining forces in her life: her devotion to wild places, her passion for literature, and her capacity for human love. These interconnected loves form the foundation of her artistic vision. The collection reveals how nature communicates with those willing to listen and respond. Oliver offers readers access to pleasures that prove more reliable than sorrows, sharing the discoveries that emerge from careful attention to the world around us.
Genres: nature, literary-criticism, literary-fiction, 20th-century, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: nature-connection, passion-for-literature
136 pages · Hardcover · Ecco