Adrift on the Ark

Our Connection to the Natural World

By (author): Margaret Thompson
ISBN 9781897142417
Softcover | Publication Date: August 5, 2009
Book Dimensions: 6 in x 7 in
216 Pages

About the Book

Adrift on the Ark is a collection of personal essays by Margaret Thompson that offers a straightforward study of the complex relationship between human beings and the natural world. The essays look at a wide range of beings—from spiders to peacocks—and cover issues such as our irrational phobias, our fascination with zoos, and the myths and stories we have created around the other occupants of this earth. They also observe the joy animals bring to us as our pets and the altruistic relationship between caregivers and companions. With lively anecdotes and engaging portraits of the animals who have enriched Margaret’s life, these entertaining and personal essays serve a double purpose: as a reminder of our place in the natural order and our intricate connections with animals; and as a warning about how much we stand to lose by ignoring our responsibilities for all life on earth.

Meant to inspire and motivate, Adrift on the Ark is an enchanting reflection on the beneficial relationship between humans and other animals.

About the Author(s)

Margaret Thompson came to Canada from England in 1967 and taught English at secondary and post-secondary levels until her retirement in 1998. She is the author of seven books, which include a BC2000 Book Award-winning YA novel, short stories, and two collections of personal essays, including Adrift on the Ark: Our Connection to the Natural World. She has also contributed to five anthologies. Margaret is a past president of the Federation of BC Writers and now lives in Victoria, BC, with a basset hound, a neurotic cat, and an itinerant peacock.

Reviews

“In lush yet charming prose, Thompson examines pets and peacocks, swans and bats, and there’s even a chapter called ‘Pigs Might Fly.’ ” —January Magazine

“Each essay is a testament to a mutual sharing of subjectivities and moves us toward a relational consciousness, resulting in the beginning of empathy, care, and compassion.” —The Goose

“Thompson’s descriptions of the personalities of individual creatures that have shared her life is reminiscent of the writings of Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, (The Pig Who Sang to the Moon).” —Animal Literature

“Heartwarming and relatable. The [stories] will make you laugh and cry. There is an underlying green message that fits well in today’s society.” —The Ladysmith Chronicle

“Margaret Thompson’s writing is charming and insightful. The book takes you into her world of nature with a vitality that is both particular and universal.” —Robert Bateman