A Place in the Woods
Illustrated by Adrian Hoover
“Clear brush and paths. Lay hardwood floor. Install wiring. Make a living. Take a vacation.” These are some of the items that Adrian Hoover jotted down on his to-do list, soon after he and his wife, Helen, gave up urban comforts for the deeper delights of the wilderness in 1954. In fact, it would take sixteen years to check off every item on the list. This is the story of the Hoovers’ education in wilderness housekeeping and of the surprising challenges they faced at each step.
Gentle and evocative. Whether you’re an active or vicarious woodswoman, you can count on Hoover to bring you into the forest with her, sharing her quiet adventures.
Minnesota Women’s Press
“Clear brush and paths. Lay hardwood floor. Install wiring. Make a living. Take a vacation.”
These are some of the items that Adrian Hoover jotted down on his to-do list, soon after he and his wife, Helen, gave up urban comforts for the deeper delights of the wilderness in 1954. The Years of the Forest by Helen Hoover elaborates on that deceptively short list and describes the difficulties inherent in accomplishing each of those tasks. In fact, it would take sixteen years to check off every item on the list. This is the story of the Hoovers’ education in wilderness housekeeping and of the surprising challenges they faced at each step.
There are priceless hints and how-to’s for solving the problems of living close to nature and on good terms with one’s neighbors—bluejays, weasels, field mice, and deer. There is plenty of magic in this guide, delightfully illustrated by Adrian Hoover. This book tells the story of going back to the land, with all its rough edges and incomparable rewards.
Gentle and evocative. Whether you’re an active or vicarious woodswoman, you can count on Hoover to bring you into the forest with her, sharing her quiet adventures.
Minnesota Women’s Press
Helen Hoover is a compassionate observer of the fauna and a sensitive, poetic chronicler of what she saw and felt. A wistful, appealing and very personal account of paradise lost.
New York Times
Hoover’s sensitivity and appreciation of the ways of nature, together with her emphasis on the manner in which nature renews itself, enhance her beautiful book. Warm and unsentimental, Years of the Forest stands in a class by itself.
Minneapolis Tribune
Laced with humor and sparkling with philosophy, Hoover’s story entertains while it teaches. New readers will find a fresh reading experience, bound to intrigue and inspire.
Philadelphia Inquirer
