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Literature & Fiction

Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

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Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile

Few writers have attempted to explore the natural history of a particular animal by adopting the animalâ€™s own sensibility. But Verlyn Klinkenborgâ€”with his deeply empathetic relation to the world around himâ€”has done just that, and done it brilliantly, in Timothy.

This is the story of a tortoise whose real life was observed by the eighteenth-century English curate Gilbert White, author of The Natural History of Selborne. For thirteen years, Timothy lived in Whiteâ€™s gardenâ€”making an occasional appearance in his journals. Now Klinkenborg gives the tortoise an unforgettable voice and powers of observation as keen as those of any bipedal naturalist. The happy result: Timothy regales us with an account of a gracefully paced (no unseemly hurry!) eight-day adventure outside the gate (â€œHow do I escape from that nimble-tongued, fleet-footed race? . . . Walk through the holes in their attentionâ€) and entertains us with shrewd observations about the curious habits and habitations of humanity. â€œTo humans,â€ Timothy says with doleful understanding, â€œin and out are matters of life and death. Not to me. Warm earth waits just beneath me. . . . The humansâ€™ own heat keeps them from sensing it.â€

Wry and wise, unexpectedly moving, and enchanting at everyâ€”carefulâ€”turn, Timothy will surprise and delight readers of all ages.

Country	USA
Author	Verlyn Klinkenborg
Binding	Hardcover
Brand	Brand: Knopf
EAN	9780679407287
Feature	Used Book in Good Condition
ISBN	0679407286
Label	Knopf
Manufacturer	Knopf
NumberOfItems	1
NumberOfPages	192
PublicationDate	2006-02-07
Publisher	Knopf
ReleaseDate	2006-02-07
Studio	Knopf

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