Katherine Shimwell

This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The prose is exquisite and the many strands - nature, history, community- illuminating and deeply insightful. I don't write well enough to do this book justice but I urge everyone to read it. It's not just about how species are disappearing from the English countryside; it's far more profound, examining man's relationship with nature over the centuries, the idea of home, indigenous communities' relationship to nature, and more. Breathtaking.

The story is an interesting one and the subject important, but I was shocked by the translation. The translator is a gifted writer in his own right, but the English is filled with errors - wrong word choices, wrong tenses, and phrases that don't work. This is not the first time I've seen a badly edited translation by Syracuse University Press. The author and translator deserved better.

A brilliant book which combines an Oxford University setting with a fantastical plot and astute observations (never boring) about translation. It has a gripping plot that includes lots of history and an indictment of colonialism. I could not put it down.

Fabulous work and translation- a moving and incredibly witty picaresque work that brings post-invasion Iraq vividly to light. Highly recommended.