Islands, the Universe, Home

Ten essays on nature, ritual, and philosophy “that are so point-blank vital you nearly need to put the book down to settle yourself” ( San Francisco Chronicle ). Gretel Ehrlich’s world is one of solitude and wonder, pain and beauty, and these elements give life to her stunning prose. Ever since her acclaimed debut, The Solace of Open Spaces , she has illuminated the particular qualities of nature and the self with graceful precision.   In Islands, the Universe, Home , Ehrlich expands her ex