Wild Spain

Chapman, Abel, 1851-1929Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 862K words
Chapters: 87

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Wild Spain (España agreste) by Walter John Buck and Abel ChapmanAuthor: Chapman, Abel, 1851-1929,Language: English, Class: SK: Agriculture: Hunting sports, Release Date: Dec 3, 2011

Editor's review

Wild Spain is a travel and hunting observational account of Spain's wild nature, co-authored by Abel Chapman and Walter John Buck, with the English original freely available via Project Gutenberg. The book records the authors' travels in remote regions of Spain, covering wildlife, mountain and wetland landscapes, and hunting activities of the time, combining the qualities of natural history and travel writing. The prose has the unhurried tone of travel literature from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, with detailed descriptions of landscapes and animals that let readers feel a Spain not yet swept up by modern tourism. It should be noted that the book's hunting perspective differs markedly from today's conservation values, and readers should distinguish this with a historical eye. For readers who enjoy nature writing, local chronicles, and old travel literature, this is a vivid firsthand record.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy nature writing and natural-history travelogues
Those interested in Spain's geography, scenery, and local chronicles
Readers studying modern travel literature and the history of hunting
Readers who can read English originals and prefer old-fashioned prose

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a modern travel guide or practical information
Readers sensitive to or opposed to hunting descriptions
Readers unaccustomed to nineteenth-century English travel-writing style

Reading tips

Read by region or chapter, treating the book as a collection of landscape sketches rather than a linear narrative.
Note how the authors observe animals and landscapes, and appreciate the differences in period perspective.
Consult a map of Spain for the place names in the book; this significantly enhances immersion and understanding.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a travel guide?

No. It is a travel and nature observational account from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, recording the authors' experiences in remote parts of Spain, with no practical information such as transport or accommodation. It is better read as a literary portrait of places and nature; prepare a modern guide separately before traveling.

Is there a lot of hunting content in the book?

Hunting is an important background of the book, and hunting activities and related observations of the time appear in many places. This differs from today's conservation values, and readers should view it as a historical document; those sensitive to hunting descriptions should be prepared in advance.

How difficult is the English?

It is in the style of old travel literature, with longer sentences, more literary vocabulary, and many place names and plant and animal names. A basic foundation in English reading is enough to proceed; for unfamiliar place names, use maps and dictionaries, and close reading word by word is unnecessary.

Comments

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About the author

Chapman, Abel, 1851-1929 Author · British · 1851–1929

Abel Chapman (1851–1929) was a British hunter, naturalist and writer. He focused on the natural environment of Spain and wrote on the basis of his own field experience. Two of his works are held in this collection: Unexplored Spain and Wild Spain. Both draw on the natural history of Spain, combining naturalist observation with hunting accounts, and are representative of English-language writing on Spanish nature. Public information about the details of his life is limited, and our understanding of his interests and direction as a writer rests mainly on his books. His writing joins field experience with natural-history knowledge, leaving a useful record of the wildlife and landscapes of Spain in his time.