Welcome to Litsy!

"In a single century archaeology has pushed the beginning of human history back some half million years, & given it a perspective which was altogether lacking when knowledge was restricted to the competitively short span of time covered by written records."
-Foreword
"I began to write the first edition of this book in 1940, when, if one listened to the intellect alone, a German victory seemed almost certain."
-Prelude
#FirstLineFridays @shybookowl

"The most substantial part of the Neolithic colonizers of [Britain]...possibly originating in pre-Dynastic Egypt, had spread from the south of France northwards and westwards until groups of them began to cross the Channel...They were a slightly built, dark people...We can visualise how parties of such men, women and children pushed off in their small boats from various points along the Channel and North Sea coast."

I'm not far into this book, but I'm loving Jacquetta Hawkes's writing style, and looked up some info about her: she's amazing!
She was the first woman to pass the Cambridge University course on archeology and anthropology, was part of a team making key Neanderthal excavations, was Assistant Principal of UK post-war reconstruction, was Secretary of the UK National Committee for UNESCO, preparing its first conference in Mexico, where she met and ⬇️

While the cover of this 1952 Pelican edition gives husband, Christopher, top billing, wife, Jacquetta is billed first on the title page, and is given her rightful acknowledgement as main author on the back cover. An exercise in '50s #ShelfAppealForSexists !
The replica Paleolithic Venus figurine is wrong as I don't think any have been found in Britain, but the stones are Sarsen and Bluestone from Stonehenge, but don't worry, I didn't take a ⬇️

Daisy the Ever-Dignified helped me finish this 1953 publication earlier. On the plus side, it‘s a strong call for readers to consider what words actually MEAN and the effect they produce. On the downside, Coombes often presents subjective responses as The One Great Truth—with, of course, a slew of white British dudes as exemplars. (To be fair, his dud examples are also white British dudes.) Basically, it‘s interesting, if biased and limited.

Outdoor breakfast with book. I took LITERATURE AND CRITICISM from a Little Free Library because I‘m a sucker for a Pelican (or a Penguin, or a Puffin), and it‘s proven an unexpected delight. It‘s a great book to argue with in terms of whose writing this mid-20th-century critic values and how he gauges a piece‘s worth, but he also makes a lot of interesting points in a clear, expressive style. I‘m enjoying myself over here.

I've just listened to this whole audiobook this morning, it's only 1 hour long. My 7yr old and I have been listening at night but we often fall straight to sleep so we never finished it. Luckily I found the book for her for Christmas 😉
But, oh my, tears from me in the kitchen at the end! Even though it's one of my favorite movies of all time.
Loved the atmospheric writing of Thiele and the connection children have with animals is just so strong.

This multi pager also from 1959 was folded in my little Pelican.

When you buy an old Pelican and what‘s inside is as good as the book.😄

What a score I found today at my local Vinnies!
This gorgeous box set of books by Colin Thiele, unread & brand new! For only $3!!! What a steal 🤑
My 7yr old & I are actually listening to this on audiobook atm, I've never experienced the book before but the movie has been one of my all time favorites since I was a kid. I cant believe how lucky I am. This set is certainly in gift giving condition & will be a perfect gift for my little one this Xmas