Nan Shepherd was 84 years old when The Living Mountain came out in 1977. Shed written the book, a meditation on her beloved Cairngorms in Scotland, in the 1940s during the Second World War. At that time, the prose of this book, a seminal work of nature writing, was thought to be ahead of its time and after getting one rejection, she put it away. Her fiction had already been published in the 1920s and 30s and after that she seemed to have disappeared from view, only to emerge three decades later.
The book had been published in a small print run by the Aberdeen University Press, an institution to which Shepherd had personal and professional ties (she had studied there and also later edited the universitys journal). It came out and was forgotten until resurrected by Robert Macfarlane, the acclaimed nature writer, some years ago. In his introduction to the book, Macfarlane talks about how the book changed him. He also reflects on how Shepherd, a woman, approaches a mountain so differently from her male peers. For a man, nature writer or not, tackling a mountain is all about summiting it, conquering the landscape. As a woman, Shepherd cares not for reaching the peak, but going through those magnificent hills.
Shepherd lived all her life in the same area around the Cairngorms. She explored the landscape with her passion for hill walking and wrote about the flora, the fauna and the environment in such pellucid, sensual prose that reading it is to experience ecstatic pleasure.
She covers it all in The Living Mountain the stone, the water, the plants, the trees, the clouds, the air even. She peers over the edge of a precipice to observe a small, reflecting pool of water. She falls asleep in the open and experiences nature from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. She observes the busy life of ptarmigans and snow buntings and hares in this harsh terrain.
Even when lost in the depths of the beauty of these hills, she doesnt gloss over the treachery of a landscape that is not really conquerable. Deaths happen, of animals and humans. People go missing in sudden blizzards. Their losses are recounted, some of them people she has personally known. Theres heartache in these lines, mourning for lives that are often cut down before their prime.
In the distance, the war drums sound and even in this remote part of Scotland theres no escaping the drone of aircraft. But the mountains, older than human civilisation, and for whom time moves at a slower pace than us, stand stoic through it all. Theres an odd sort of comfort to be had in contemplating the mortality of the human race in the face of such longevity. Shepherd is able to conjure up such a well of emotions in the reader that by the time this small treasure of a book comes to an end youre grateful that she thought to take it out of the drawer where it languished for so many years and gave it another chance to see the light.
The author is a Bangalore-based writer and communications professional with many published short stories and essays to her credit.
That One Book is a fortnightly column that does exactly what it says takes up one great classic and tells you why it is (still) great. Come, raid the bookshelves with us.
Read this article:
'My spirit soars where the air grows thin' - Deccan Herald
- The Long Run: Life is a marathon - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Notably longer lifespan with Activated carbon also fullerenes give 36 pct to Doubled longevity - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Introduction to Life Insurance - Basic History of Life Insurance - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- 25 Ways You Can Live A Longer Life - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Celebrating longevity: the shape of the future [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Losing pounds won’t gain you longevity [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Molecular process in fat cells that influences stress and longevity identified [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Joslin Scientists Identify Molecular Process in Fat Cells That Influences Stress and Longevity [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Join GSA in San Diego for the Nation's Premier Aging Conference! [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Need-to-know news and views for UB faculty and staff [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Eunuchs May Hold Key to Longevity [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- New Jersey Senior Care Company Teams Up with the American Society on Aging to Offer Free Continuing Education Units ... [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- Buffalo Grove discusses move to merit-based raises [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- Men without testicles might live longer, study suggests [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2012]
- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- What whales tell us about the evolution of menopause [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2012]
- For longevity, it's the survival of the nicest Save [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Information Nation: Digital Social Experiment to Put a Human Face on Big Data [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2012]
- The Other Side of a Businesswoman [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2012]
- Dr. Mao's Wellness Living: Coping With Loneliness To Increase Longevity [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2012]
- Over The Counter: Chocolate and caffeine - good news on the healthfront [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2012]
- How Did Woman Live to 132? [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2012]
- World's 'oldest person' dies at 132 [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2012]
- Sandoval says he never promised to restore state workers' pay [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2012]
- Was she really 132? World's 'oldest ever person' dies in remote Georgian village [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2012]
- Local businesses honored for their longevity [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2012]
- Living longer comes easier [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Human Life Span Took Huge Jump in Past Century [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Einstein establishes the Paul F. Glenn Center for the Biology of Human Aging Research [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- A Pig, a Girl, and a Spider: 'Charlotte's Web' at 60 [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Modern humans found to be fittest ever at survival, by far [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2012]
- New research examines modern humans’ ability to extend lifespan [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2012]
- "Seventy-two Is the New 30": Why Are We Living So Much Longer? [Last Updated On: October 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2012]
- Thanks grandma! Human longevity 'down to older females who carried on caring for their offspring's young families' [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- How Grandmothers Gave Us Longer Lives [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Humans Evolved To Live Longer Because Of Grandmothers [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Grandmas made humans live longer: Chimp lifespan evolves into human longevity, computer simulation shows [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- swissnex Connector Award- Meet Prof Joe Brain - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Castration May Lead to Longer Life for Men - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Dr Todd Ovokaitys on 2012 and Human Longevity - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- The Greatest Threat to Retirement Savings is Human Longevity - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Long for This World - trailer - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Much longer lifespan from eating Activated carbon or fullerenes (a third to 2 times longevity) - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Mind Fire Trailer - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- 1st HOUR (SEE DOT, UPPER LEFT) 6/5/12 live ! VENUS TRANSIT @ 3:52pm(pst) - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Resveratrol finding by Japan scientist - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- The Impact of Human Longevity On Life Insurance - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- The Mortality Revolution -- Steve Savant - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Good Guys song from Skull and Bones 2012 album entitled "Conspiracy, Aliens and Nazis" - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Changing One Codon Of Telomerase Gives Greater Human Longevity.flv - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Religion and Indefinite Life Extension - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Solving the mystery of aging: Longevity gene makes Hydra immortal and humans grow older [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Human Longevity - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2012]
- Single Premium Life Insurance with Living Benefits - Video [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2012]
- Bern Shen on how technology reduces some risk and increases others - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Experts on key drivers of human longevity - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- James Heywood on what is health and how we can learn what it means - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Nick Wood on translating genetics into neurological disease and management - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Omid Farokhzad on transforming drug delivery through nano-medicine - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Elias Mossialos on health policy and innovating for longevity - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Helen Chung on health policy and longer lives - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Daniel Ryan on the role of the insurance industry funding longer lives - Video [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2012]
- Study: Education Extends Longevity—Except for Black Males [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2012]
- Tom Kirkwood on Understanding the links between disease and ageing - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2012]
- Christoph Nabholz on Whole genome analysis and insurance consequences - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2012]
- Daniel Ryan on Medical demands of an ageing population - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2012]
- Libertarian Life-Extension Reforms - #2 - Abolishing Medical Licensing Protectionism - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2012]
- Libertarian Life-Extension Reforms - #1 - Repeal FDA Approval Requirements - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2012]
- Libertarian Life-Extension Reforms - #3-4 - Abolishing Medical and Software Patent Monopolies - Video [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2012]
- How Proposals to Raise Medicare, Social Security Ages Can Harm Americans [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2012]
- Bats offer clues to immunity, longevity [Last Updated On: December 24th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 24th, 2012]
- Biology Of Human Longevity: - Video [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2012]
- AXA Longevity-Pr. Stephen Coles: Is there an upper limit to human longevity? - Video [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2013] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2013]
- New Buck Institute study extends life span to human equivalent of 400 to 500 years [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Human longevity: Research on animals and centenarians shows ... [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Human Mortality Database [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Biodemography of human longevity - Wikipedia, the free ... [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Longevity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Longevity Science: Unraveling the Secrets of Human Longevity ... [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2013]
- Review: Loyce Houlton's 'Nutcracker' retains its energy [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2013] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2013]