The Six Walls of Life
by Nina Burton
Description
From the 2016 August Prize for Non-Fiction winner comes a beguiling and in many ways exceptional nature memoir, an homage to the natural world around us.
What begins with a renovation of Nina Burton’s summer cottage, swiftly turns into an exploration of nature, life and philosophy in the hands of the award-winning essayist. Within the walls, the ceiling and the floor of the cottage and its surrounding garden, we encounter a host of animals—ants, honey bees, foxes, squirrels, blackbirds, badgers, pigeons and deer—making her house their home, which prompted Nina to explore what is awe-inspiring and often delightfully surprising in each species.
For instance, did you know that there are more ants altogether than the number of seconds that have passed since the Big Bang? And that in relation to their size, their anthill cities can be larger than London and New York? Or, that a bird’s migratory instinct is so strong that an injured stork once escaped captivity and was found six weeks later having walked 150 kilometres, following the migratory path of his flock on foot? This and many other remarkable musings are woven together with scientific exploration in the absolutely captivating THE SIX WALLS OF LIFE, in which Nina reveals the inner lives and hitherto unknown habits of the animals with which she shares her enchanted space.
A clear heir to the Swedish tradition of nature writing first made famous by Kerstin Ekman, Nina Burton writes with boundless enthusiasm and an inspiring curiosity, while enlightening the reader about the greater natural world. She transports us into her chirping, buzzing, humming sanctuary, letting us in on the hidden secrets of the animals who have taken up residence on our doorsteps and in our hearts.
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Reviews
‘A classic in the making. Bearing in mind the awe-inspiring literary prizes that have been awarded to Nina Burton, it is clear I am not alone in being grateful that this authorship exists. With her collections of essays she twins literary splendour with encyclopaedic knowledge in a range of subjects. We, the readers, don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting or the research, we are given it all as a gift, served on a silver platter, tasteful and in style. We can just sit back and enjoy… A learned little book that is light, airy and super charming.’
- Dagens Nyheter
‘This meditation on the state of nature is an exquisite story…There’s an endlessly loving gaze on nature and musings that gives the reader a lasting, sweet aftertaste. Nina Burton’s special gift is her ability to shift the perspective just enough to make the reader elated…Just like last year's instant nature writing classic, Patrik Svensson's The Gospel of Eels, it both soothes and challenges the reader.’
- Svenska Dagbladet
‘This is veritable a treasure trove of knowledge to share with one’s children, impress others with at dinner parties or ponder alone when gallivanting through the urban landscape of city parks and suburban woodlands—clever octopi, farming ants and crows that can play ‘memory’. But THE SIX WALLS OF LIFE is bigger than its witty anecdotes. It asks questions, about ethics, politics, and who we are… In Burton there’s a contagious delight in questioning old rules; the dualism between nature and culture appear, for example, like a strange cognitive prison that we dare not escape from. Humanity seems just as wild or civilized as a badger, just different. I am filled with ecstatic wonder and mild humility.’
- Expressen
‘Poet and essayist Nina Burton writes thoughtfully and beautifully about the mystery of life…In crystal-clear prose she tells us about Aristotle’s huge interest in birds, and German forest rangers’ attempts to make baby birds sing folk songs. It’s a wonderful, formative read that makes you look at nature in a new way.’
- Vi läser
‘Burton notes and gives context to things she sees or hears at her summer house. It might sound simple, but what she offers us is astonishing facts and breathtaking insights into the absolutely ordinary. In addition, she asks unexpected and touching questions… Burton is extremely well-read and has a unique gift of finding food for thought and intricate tales about nature.’
- Norrländska Socialdemokraten
Author Biography
Nina Burton (b. 1946) is a poet and essayist, famous for her unique style of combining lyric poetry and the natural sciences. In 2016 she won the prestigious August Prize for Non-Fiction for The Gutenberg Galaxy Nova, and has also been awarded amongst others the Swedish Nobel Academy’s Essay Prize, Sweden’s biggest non-fiction award Stora Fackbokspriset and Övralidspriset. Nina is a fellow of the Swedish Science Academy and the
prestigious literary association Samfundet De Nio.
Copyright Information
Nina Burton, 2020
Bonnier Rights
View all titlesBibliographic Information
- Publisher Albert Bonniers Förlag
- Publication Date September 2020
- Orginal LanguageSwedish
- ISBN/Identifier 9789100182427
- Publication Country or regionSweden
- FormatPaperback
- Pages264
- ReadershipGeneral
- Publish StatusPublished
- Original Language TitleLivets tunna väggar
- Copyright Year2020
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