The Man Who Planted Trees

In his wonderful story of Elzeard Bouffier, an imaginary yet wholly believable shepherd, Jean Giono perhaps hoped to inspire a reafforestation programme that would renew the whole earth. The story - both parable and manual - opposes the tree-planter, the earth-husband, to the makers of war. At the same time, it shows us all that is best in man's relationship with nature and his fellow man. For Giono, nature is a living force in which man can rediscover the depth and harmony he has lost in urban life. Michael McCurdy's beautiful woodcuts, which accompany the text, help to establish this book as a minor classic. The cover price includes a loose print of one of these woodcuts; on good quality cartridge paper, it's well worth framing. 52pp.