Fiona Stafford is professor of English language and literature, University of Oxford. She is author and presenter of two highly acclaimed series for BBC Radio 3 titled The Meaning of Trees. She lives in Bucks, UK.
"Everywhere [Stafford's] eye for detail brings the trees to life. .
. . The Long, Long Life of Trees is elegant, engaging,
impeccably written and packed with interest."—John Carey, Sunday
Times
"Nature Book of the Year."—Sunday Times
"Beautifully produced, and each chapter describes a different
species, from the dark yew to the friendly apple. . . . A
chapter a day of this calming book will keep panic away."—Margaret
Drabble, The Guardian "Books of the Year 2016"
"To describe a book as enchanting is usually to condescend it. Not
this time. Fiona Stafford’s enchanting study is also stoutly built,
plainly and stylishly written, admirably achieved as to both
artistry and pedagogy, and as gripping as a good thriller, replete
with plots and character."—Fred Inglis, Times Higher Education
Supplement
"A leisurely, lyrical reflection on 17 different species, from
apple to yew, with special emphasis on the role that each has
played in art and literature, myth and legend, medicine and
technology. . . . Readers intrigued by the nexus between the
cultural and the arboreal will enjoy her book."—Gerard
Helferich, Wall Street Journal
"For her book in celebration of trees, Fiona Stafford has done a
prodigious amount of research . . . this is a very rich mixture – a
great arboreal gallimaufry."—Derwent May, Times Literary
Supplement
"Fiona Stafford weaves together tales of their place in myth,
painting, religion and literature, enlivened with her personal
sense of wonder. This is a timely book; our trees face a growing
threat from diseases that could leave gaps in our cultural
landscape, as well as our woodlands and hedgerows."—Phil Gates, BBC
Wildlife
"It’s impossible to imagine a better book on the subject than this.
It’s written with verve, pace, genuine wit and an inspired eye for
the quirky fact or anecdote. Even those readers who don’t think
they’re interested in trees will find that they are."— John
Harding, Daily Mail
"Fiona Stafford makes a welcome and entertaining contribution. She
draws on material from fields including folklore, natural science,
literature, cultural history, European art, ancient mythology and
modern medicine to illuminate such trees central place in western
civilisation."—Mark Cocker, Spectator
"A lovely thing to have and to hold . . . combines natural with
cultural and social history, taking account not only of the biology
and ecology of plants, but also our relationship with them, past
and present."—Mark Griffiths, Country Life
"Instantly enriches your experience of the natural world,
overlaying the trees around you in the myth, poetry and
hidden meaning. . . . The abundance of information never feels like
a deluge, as Stafford leads the reader through it with a light,
entertaining and often poetic touch. This is a real treasure of a
book."—Lia Leendertz, Gardens Illustrated
"In this paean to the arboreal impulse, Fiona Stafford gets under
the bark of the terrestrial giants whose natural history is
interlaced with our own."—Barbara Kier, Nature
"The author’s, ahem, root and branch treatment of trees is destined
to be a definitive one. . . . By a copy as holiday reading and your
plane’s descent over the Home Counties will offer you a chance to
put your new-found knowledge into context."—James Anthony, Evening
Standard
“A book that would grace any book shelf. It is entertaining and
informative for the enthusiastic dendrologist, and the casual
reader.”—Colin How, Methodist Recorder
“Fiona Stafford manages to combine an encyclopaedic knowledge of
trees with an anecdotal style to create what all nature writers
hope to achieve: something highly readable and informative.”—Simon
Garnham, Shooting Times & Country Magazine
"The Long, Long Life of Trees is a combination of personal
commentary on Fiona Stafford’s love and appreciation of trees,
coupled with a wealth of well-researched and fascinating examples
of how trees have featured in history, art, commerce, culture and
folklore. The book really helps to underline the importance of
trees – past and present – and their continuing contribution as a
force for good despite the many competing forces pitched against
them over the centuries."—The Woodland Trust
“A book that would grace any book shelf. It is entertaining and
informative for the enthusiastic dendrologist, and the casual
reader.”—Colin How, Methodist Recorder
*Methodist Recorder*
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