Eel Question

Nicola Davies

Description

Bound to serve a cruel master, Nant's curiosity never fails to get her into trouble. Her dreams of a life beyond her marshland home intensify each autumn when the silver eels return, along with her questions. Where do they come from? And where do they go?The last in a series of six illustrated folk tales for children which explore the supernatural world, inspired by ancient folk tales and a love of nature. Be ready to feel a little bit of magic, and perhaps a few shivers down the spine.Written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Beth Holland.'This unusual, mythic-feeling story is one of a series of tales from Welsh publisher Graffeg that explore the deeper and sometimes darker side of our connection with the natural world. Nant finds herself at the mercy of a witch hunt, and the story explores themes of ignorance and curiosity with a deft and gentle hand. As ever, Davies' love of the natural world is obvious, and her writing sings with a dark exuberance.' BookTrust 'These stories ask as many questions as they answer and highlight the strong ties that exist between nature and mankind; they beg us to seek a little deeper. Thought-provoking, haunting and swimming with the diverse beauty of the natural world.' Mary Esther Judy, Fallen Star Stories

Informations

• Publié par: Graffeg
• Date de parution: 01 mai 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781913634667
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

The Eel Question Published in Great Britain in 2018 by Graffeg Limited.
Written by Nicola Davies copyright © 2018. Illustrated by Beth Holland copyright © 2018. Designed and produced by Graffeg Limited copyright © 2018.
Graffeg Limited, 24 Stradey Park Business Centre, Mwrwg Road, Llangennech, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire SA14 8YP Wales UK Tel [phone] www.graffeg.com
Nicola Davies is hereby identified as the author of this work in accordance with section 77 of the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
A CIP Catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
ISBN 9781910862520 eBook ISBN 9781913634667
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For Simon Barnes, who knows about the surprises of a flat landscape.





Illustrations Beth Holland


Nicola Davies


The Eel Question




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7


Everything about a hilly landscape invites curiosity. What lies at the end of that valley? What could be beyond that ridge? Even the water in the hills is always on its way to somewhere else, suggesting the possibility of other places, other ways to be. In the hills, you can see from where you are, to where you might be.
But a flat landscape squashes enquiry. The horizon closes in and what lies beyond it is unknown and unknowable. The water is lazy, reluctant to go anywhere. Here is where you are, a flat land says, here is all that matters; here is all there is.
Nant lived in a flat landscape, the flattest of all, a marsh. A maze of stagnant pools and reed beds spread out in all directions from anywhere she had ever stood. The horizon was usually close enough to touch, and the only comment that the marsh ever made was an eternal shushing.


The Eel Question