- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Penguin (April 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140590110
- ISBN-13: 978-0140590111
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,571,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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First Sentence
Twilight over meadow and water, the eve-star shining above the hill, and Old Nog the heron crying kra-a-ark! as his slow dark wings carried him down to the estuary. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Twilight over meadow and water, the eve-star shining above the hill, and Old Nog the heron crying kra-a-ark! as his slow dark wings carried him down to the estuary. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I remember reading this book when quite young - maybe 9 or so - and being extremely upset by the ending. I have since revisited it as an adult and was struck by what a beautiful book it really is. It is full of joy and wonder, as well as death, sadness and brutality - the latter made even worse by its almost casual nature. It's an exquisite portrait of a vanished time, seen from Tarka's viewpoint.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I remember reading this book when i was young about 7 - 8 years old and after my boss saying that she just recently read it, i decided to re-read it and it brought back so many memories. Its a beautiful book which your imagination can get lost in and you can picture how otters would be.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
From the very start it is clear that this is a book based on hours of observation, of close attention to detail and a keen eye.
The descriptions of the Otter's eye view of the Devon countryside rings very true; the plants, the birds and other animals occur exactly where they should be and the author clearly has a feel for water.
The otters in the book, especially Tarka, seem both real and fantastical at the same time - brave, cunning, highly intelligent and remarkably resolute. Whether this is a true reflection of the biological otter is a matter for debate, but the whole the book feels more believable than mythical.
The story is told in a simple and straight forward manner, and for all that the otters become somewhat humanised the story is far from romantic. The death of the otters at the hands of otter hunters in brutal, and their casual disregard for other living things is clearly shown.
This is a sympathetic portrait of otters and an honest, but not flattering, one of humans.
`Animal stories' of this type do feel rather old fashioned, but the detail of the observation lifts this book above the ordinary.
Recommended.
The descriptions of the Otter's eye view of the Devon countryside rings very true; the plants, the birds and other animals occur exactly where they should be and the author clearly has a feel for water.
The otters in the book, especially Tarka, seem both real and fantastical at the same time - brave, cunning, highly intelligent and remarkably resolute. Whether this is a true reflection of the biological otter is a matter for debate, but the whole the book feels more believable than mythical.
The story is told in a simple and straight forward manner, and for all that the otters become somewhat humanised the story is far from romantic. The death of the otters at the hands of otter hunters in brutal, and their casual disregard for other living things is clearly shown.
This is a sympathetic portrait of otters and an honest, but not flattering, one of humans.
`Animal stories' of this type do feel rather old fashioned, but the detail of the observation lifts this book above the ordinary.
Recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Run Tarka, Run...
Been meaning to read this book for years. Finally got around to it after I saw a copy going cheap.
The novel tells the trials faced by an otter in the Devonshire... Read more
The novel tells the trials faced by an otter in the Devonshire... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Bridgey
A Masterpiece
As a child, the film adaptation of the classic novel had a massive effect on me and ever since it has been an ambition of mine to read the source material. Read more
Published 17 months ago by The_Bearded_Man
Beautiful, unique, thrilling and TRUE
I mentioned this book to a friend recently and he said "That's a great novel!"
He was totally wrong. Tarka the Otter is no work of fiction! It's a true story! Read more
He was totally wrong. Tarka the Otter is no work of fiction! It's a true story! Read more
Published 20 months ago by Denzil Walton
simply beautiful
Timeless and simply beautiful to read, you can not stop reading it but you can put it down and pick it up again. I don't usually read books twice but I will this one. Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2007 by Jayne Shoulders
Tragedy of Man despoiling paradise
The natural history of Devon as a minutely detailed backcloth to the tragic existence of a fine animal. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 1999 by smflyman@aol.co.uk
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