The Woman Who Lives in the Earth

by Swain Wolfe

Book Overview

Resonant and poetic in its simplicity, this is the story of a young girl who uses the hidden forms and patterns of the natural world to transform herself as well as her enemies. Book jacket. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060174110
• ISBN13: 9780060174118
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 3.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

A jewel of wisdom.

Like Sainte-Exupery's "Little Prince" or Coelho's "Alchemist", this book is filled to the brim with hidden truths and insight into the human soul: How the innocence of children allows them to see what others cannot.. how fear and superstition can make monsters of us all... and the triumph of spirit over ignorance. This is a must-read for any student of life.

A fable in excellent form

Like any fable, _The Woman Who Lives In the Earth_ uses symbolism and fantasy to express reality, pitting evil and good in a package that wraps up neatly at the end. Swain Wolfe uses the genre expertly, showing not only the dichotomy of black and white, but a few shades of grey as well. The story is simply and gracefully told, with a few turns of language that sent me back to reread just for the pleasure of experiencing them again. Wolfe's background in cultural anthropology shows in the details, and his understanding of human nature--adult, child, familial--in every line. As a study of fear, prejudice, and influence, _The Woman Who Lives in The Earth_ is an excellent example of the literary fable. Recommended, highly, especially if you are a fan of Richard Bach, Walter Wangerin, or Richard Adams.