Has anyone read . . .

[njhorror]

AFTER LONDON or Wild England by Richard Jefferies?

If so, what did you think of it?

[njhorror]

It IS available for free on Kindle, and also available as a free PDF.

[brendanconnell]

I have read both. I am unsure what TLO people would think of it. I read, or at least have read, a lot of books like this, but there is nothing remotely horrific about them. They are classics of the English novel. Basically these are rural English novels where people are walking through woods, admiring flowers, etc. I suppose every now and again there is a hunt or something... The writing is good though. But one really has to like this sort of book.

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[njhorror]

I'm downloading it from Librivox to listen to as I commute.
This was why I thought that it might be interesting...
[h1]After London, or Wild England[/h1]
Richard JEFFERIES (1848 - 1887)

Jefferies' novel can be seen as an early example of "post-apocalyptic fiction." After some sudden and unspecified catastrophe has depopulated England, the countryside reverts to nature, and the few survivors to a quasi-medieval way of life.

The first part of the book, "The Relapse into Barbarism", is the account by some later historian of the fall of civilisation and its consequences, with a loving description of nature reclaiming England. The second part, "Wild England", is an adventure set many years later in the wild landscape and society.

The book is not without its flaws (notably the abrupt and unsatisfying ending) but is redeemed by the quality of the writing, particularly the unnervingly prophetic descriptions of the post-apocalyptic city and countryside. (Summary by Ruth Golding and Wikipedia)

[njhorror]

What a coincidence. I'm downloading THE NIGHT LAND at this very moment!

[brendanconnell]

Oh, I see, this is one book, not two. I just pulled it from my shelf. I see it does have this "return to barbarism" theme - but it still reads like his rural novels. Most of it seems to be descriptions of nature, but there is a fight in there... It has been a long time since I read it. I actually just read it without knowing anything about it being considered post-apocalyptic - and amidst reading his other books. I probably thought it was supposed to be more historic. In any case, apparently not that memorable

No, but I do recall being enraptured by his "spiritual autobiography" (I am not quite sure how else to describe it) The Story of My Heart when I first read it during the early 1990s.

Mark S.

[MadsPLP]

The first part of the book is wonderful, a loving description of a post-apocalyptic London where nature has taken completely over, and there a few humans in sight.

The second part is a rather uninteresting adventure story set in this world, though closer to some sort of medieval romance/adventure.