An older Puffin Books version, but nonetheless very readable.
One of the "1001 books you must read before you die".

This is the classic story of an otter living in the Devonshire countryside, which captures the feel of life in the wild as seen through the otter's own eyes.


Amazon Review by Matt Hetling on February 7, 2005:

Most classics enjoy a broad audience, and maintain their popularity through the years because they are so fantastic. Other classics are no less fantastic, but for some reason never attained the iconic status that they deserve. This is that kind of classic, a quiet classic which is little-known, but still has that special ability to impact those who read it.

This book tells the life story of Tarka the Otter, who is born in the Devon countryside and faces the struggles that all otters must endure as they grow up, mate, and grow old. Tarka is the main character of the book, but the author refuses to anthropomorphize him, instead bringing us into an utterly realistic world of life, death, joy and loss, without pretending that otters can actually speak in anything approximating a human language.

I've read other books that purport to show us the life of an animal in this way, but none of them bear the richness of detail and the feeling of authenticity that come with this novel. The author has such an intimate understanding of the particulars of Tarka's life that we are drawn into his world with a stunning immediacy. Every feature of the land is known from the ground up; every bend in the creek is lovingly described. The way that the land and the various organisms that populate it interact creates a breathtaking tapestry of life that puts most other nature writers to shame.

The language, particularly the language used to describe the natural settings, is rich and exotic, making us appreciate the wonders of an unremarkable countryside setting in a new way. No matter how well read you are, this book will throw new words at you, and enrich your vocabulary.

A captivating read, even though a bit slower than normal as I had to stop every so often to look up the meaning of many words of Devonshire dialect. Tarka's story is told from the perspective of an otter - not as first person, but from otter eye level - and is a stunning and timeless piece of nature writing. The writing itself is beautiful and evocative, describing the Devonshire countryside and wildlife in loving, very tightly packed detail.
A book ahead of its time, and a worthy inclusion in the 1001 Books list.

Now off on a trip to Romania as a wishlist tag.

Off on a long trip to lamelemon as a wishlist tag.
Hope you enjoy it!

Safely received with thanks. Happy New Year!