The Country Diary Nature Notes

by Edith Holden, Alan C. Jenkins

When Edith wrote her diary she called it Nature Notes 1906 keeping a daily note of all the things she observed in nature - flowers, birds, animals, the changing seasons of the year. Many of the things she observed are timeless but the publishers have now decided to extend this simple idea by producing a nature notebook with a text by the well-known naturalist, Alan C. Jenkins, to access a parallel to and commentary on Edith Holden's own text.
There are many practical suggestions for the present-day naturalist and reader. The book is designed in the form of a diary so that readers can make their own nature notebook. Many of Edith Holden's original illustrations are included.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Edith Blackwell Holden (September 26, 1871 – March 16, 1920) was born at Kings Norton, Worcester, in 1871, one of seven children of a Midlands paint manufacturer. The family lived in the small village of Olton in Warwickshire and it was there that she wrote and illustrated her book, The Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady. After attending art school, she worked as an illustrator, with her drawings (often of animals) being published in several books.

She later moved to London, and in 1911 met and married Ernest Smith, a sculptor; they lived in Chelsea, and had no children. On March 16th 1920, in her 49th year, Edith died tragically by drowning in the Thames at Kew, while gathering buds from chestnut trees.

Reviews

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edith Holden's drawings are always lovely to look at. Alan Jenkins wrote this as a companion to the Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady. It would be better read as that, but is interesting on its own. He comments on how things common in her day are not so now, how our understanding of some things has evolved and draws out points from her writing to ponder more thoroughly.
The book is arranged by months with spaces so the reader can be a writer of a nature diary. As only the numbers are there, the year does not matter.
The book is easy reading, but taking time to contemplate the drawings and writing makes the book take longer to enjoy. And it is a book to savor for anyone who loves the outdoors.

[Rachelmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet journal book was given to me by my Grandma a long time ago and I just re-read it recently. It’s a treasure and has beautiful artwork inside with room for your own nature notes/observations. Going to find her diary and biography and add them to my list!🌲🌸

[Zenab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read to September

[Noninuna]

I'm not gonna rate this book since I'm not satisfied with the version that I read.
Anyway, I did enjoyed the paintings and her anecdotes 👍👍 but not so much of the commentary by Mr. Jenkins. Probably because I'm not a nature enthusiast who could appreciate long details.