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Decoding the Mystery: Unveiling the Clan of the Cave Bear Author and Their Enduring Legacy
Are you captivated by the prehistoric world, drawn into tales of survival against the odds, and intrigued by the complexities of early human societies? Then you’ve likely encountered Jean M. Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear. This post dives deep into the fascinating world of Jean M. Auel, the author behind this iconic series, exploring her life, writing process, inspiration, and the enduring impact of her work. We'll unravel the mysteries surrounding her creation, analyze her narrative techniques, and delve into the reasons why Clan of the Cave Bear remains a captivating read decades after its initial publication. Prepare to unearth the secrets of the author behind the enduring legend of Ayla.
Jean M. Auel: A Life Woven into the Tapestry of Prehistory
Jean M. Auel's journey to becoming the author of a globally acclaimed prehistoric fiction series wasn't straightforward. Born in 1936, her early life laid the foundation for her later passion. While specifics about her childhood are scarce in readily available public information, her enduring fascination with prehistory is undoubtedly a key element in understanding her literary success. This passion informed her meticulous research, a hallmark of her writing. Her commitment to accuracy, evident in the detailed descriptions of Paleolithic life, clothing, tools, and social structures, sets her work apart from many other novels in the genre. She spent years immersing herself in anthropological studies, archaeological findings, and the lives of experts in the field. This rigorous approach to research shines through in the vivid, tangible world she created.
Crafting the Clan: The Genesis of Ayla's Story
Auel’s inspiration for Clan of the Cave Bear is often attributed to a blend of personal fascination and scholarly research. It wasn't a sudden flash of inspiration but rather a slow burn, fueled by years of dedicated study and a deep-seated curiosity about early humankind. The idea of a young Cro-Magnon girl raised by Neanderthals, a stark contrast in cultures and physical characteristics, offered a powerful narrative framework ripe with conflict, growth, and the exploration of human adaptation and resilience. The novel's genesis lies in her commitment to creating a plausible and immersive prehistoric world, a world that is both scientifically informed and emotionally resonant.
The Auel Method: Research, Revision, and the Pursuit of Authenticity
Auel’s writing process was renowned for its meticulousness. It wasn't a matter of simply conjuring a compelling narrative; it was about building a world from the ground up. She meticulously researched every aspect of Paleolithic life, from the intricacies of toolmaking to the dynamics of social structures and the challenges of survival. This commitment to accuracy extended to the detailed descriptions of landscapes, fauna, and the very language used by her characters. The process often involved years of research and multiple revisions before a manuscript was deemed complete, a testament to her dedication to historical authenticity and literary excellence. This rigorous approach is evident in the richness and detail of her world-building.
Beyond the Cave: The Impact and Legacy of Auel's Work
The Earth's Children series, which begins with Clan of the Cave Bear, has transcended the boundaries of genre fiction. It has captivated readers worldwide with its blend of adventure, romance, and anthropological detail. Auel's work has sparked renewed interest in Paleolithic studies, encouraging readers to learn more about early human history. The enduring popularity of her novels points to a universal human fascination with our origins and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The novels explore themes of survival, adaptation, love, loss, and the evolution of human societies, providing a thought-provoking narrative alongside thrilling adventures. The books have been translated into numerous languages, solidifying their place in global literature.
A Detailed Outline of Clan of the Cave Bear:
I. Introduction:
Establishes the setting: A harsh but beautiful Ice Age landscape.
Introduces Ayla, a young Cro-Magnon girl separated from her family.
Sets the stage for Ayla's discovery and adoption by the Clan.
II. Main Chapters:
Ayla's Integration into the Clan: Focuses on the challenges Ayla faces adjusting to Neanderthal customs and social structures. Explores the differences in their lifestyles and beliefs.
Developing Relationships: Highlights Ayla's relationships with various Clan members, particularly Iza, Brun, and Creb. These interactions showcase both conflict and acceptance.
Learning the Ways of the Clan: Ayla's learning process – from hunting and gathering to the social intricacies of the Clan – demonstrates resilience and adaptation.
The Growing Tensions: Increasing tension within and between the Clan and other groups creates conflict and suspense.
Ayla's Self-Discovery: Ayla's journey of self-discovery, embracing her own strength and independence, is central to the narrative.
III. Conclusion:
Resolution of the major conflicts and challenges.
Ayla's decision to leave the Clan and chart her own path.
A reflection on the importance of adaptation, resilience, and self-discovery.
Detailed Explanation of the Outline Points:
I. Introduction: The opening chapters immediately immerse the reader in the harsh beauty and dangers of the Ice Age environment. The sudden loss of Ayla's family creates immediate empathy for her character and sets the stage for her journey. The introduction to the Neanderthal Clan is crucial, showcasing their unique culture and societal norms, which will stand in stark contrast to Ayla's Cro-Magnon heritage.
II. Main Chapters: These chapters form the core of the narrative, intricately weaving together Ayla's struggles, triumphs, and developing relationships within the Clan. Each interaction, from seemingly small acts of kindness to major conflicts, contributes to her growth and understanding of the Neanderthal way of life. The tensions building throughout the novel add suspense, culminating in a critical decision that shapes the rest of her life. These chapters also showcase the detailed research that underpins Auel’s writing, presenting a realistic portrayal of Paleolithic living.
III. Conclusion: The final chapters resolve the conflicts and challenges presented earlier in the narrative, leaving the reader with a sense of closure while simultaneously highlighting the enduring strength of the human spirit. Ayla's decision is a critical turning point, symbolizing self-discovery, independence, and the ongoing human quest for connection and belonging. The conclusion also leaves room for the continuation of Ayla’s story in subsequent books.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Jean M. Auel still alive? While not explicitly stated in easily accessible sources, information about her current status is sparse. The best way to find up-to-date information would be to search reputable news outlets or her official website (if one exists).
2. How many books are in the Earth's Children series? The series currently comprises six novels.
3. What inspired Jean M. Auel to write Clan of the Cave Bear? Her fascination with prehistory and a deep-seated interest in early human cultures are cited as primary inspirations. Years of dedicated research and study formed the foundation for the novels.
4. How long did it take Jean M. Auel to write Clan of the Cave Bear? The exact timeframe is not publicly documented, however, given her meticulous research and revision process, it likely took several years.
5. Is Clan of the Cave Bear based on a true story? No, it is a work of fiction, though grounded in extensive research on Paleolithic societies and their cultures.
6. What are the main themes explored in Clan of the Cave Bear? Key themes include survival, adaptation, human evolution, cultural differences, resilience, and self-discovery.
7. What makes Clan of the Cave Bear so popular? Its combination of adventure, romance, and detailed historical research creates a compelling and immersive reading experience. Readers are drawn to Ayla's journey of self-discovery and adaptation.
8. Are there any movie adaptations of Clan of the Cave Bear? There has been one film adaptation, though it didn't fully capture the scope of the novel.
9. Where can I find more information about Jean M. Auel? Searching reputable online sources, libraries, or academic databases dedicated to literature and anthropology might offer more insight into her life and work.
Related Articles:
1. The Neanderthal Perspective in Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear: This article explores the portrayal of Neanderthals in the novel, examining the accuracy and potential biases.
2. Ayla's Journey of Self-Discovery: A deeper dive into Ayla's personal growth and evolution throughout the novel.
3. The Impact of Clan of the Cave Bear on Popular Culture: An exploration of the book's influence on other works of fiction and media.
4. Comparing and Contrasting Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal Cultures in Auel's Work: A detailed comparison of the cultural differences illustrated in the novels.
5. The Role of Women in Auel's Prehistoric World: An examination of the portrayal of female characters and their roles in the Paleolithic societies.
6. Jean M. Auel's Research Methodology: A critical analysis of Auel's approach to research and its impact on the authenticity of her work.
7. The Accuracy of Prehistoric Details in Clan of the Cave Bear: A fact-checking approach to the accuracy of the book's historical details.
8. The Love Story in Clan of the Cave Bear: An analysis of the romantic relationship between Ayla and Jondalar.
9. The Significance of Ayla's Skills and Adaptations: A study of how Ayla's resourcefulness and adaptations contribute to her survival and success.
| clan of cave bear author: The Clan of the Cave Bear (Enhanced Edition) Jean M. Auel, 2011-02-22 This enhanced eBook includes: • Eight never-before-seen video interviews with Jean M. Auel where she discusses The Clan of the Cave Bear and the Earth’s Children® series: “You Must Be Able to Change in Order to Survive,” “Jondalar and Ayla,” “On Language, “Cro-Magnons and Neanderthals: The Crossbreeding Question,” “On Research (and Glaciers),” “The Domestication of Horses and Wolves,” “The Painted Caves,” and “What Is It Like Finishing a Series?” • An excerpt from The Land of Painted Caves • An Earth’s Children® series sampler • A text Q&A with Jean M. Auel • The full text of the novel This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves The Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly—she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Land of Painted Caves (with Bonus Content) Jean M. Auel, 2011-03-29 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this, the extraordinary conclusion of the ice-age epic series, Earth’s Children®, Ayla, Jondalar, and their infant daughter, Jonayla, are living with the Zelandonii in the Ninth Cave. Ayla has been chosen as an acolyte to a spiritual leader and begins arduous training tasks. Whatever obstacles she faces, Ayla finds inventive ways to lessen the difficulties of daily life, searching for wild edibles to make meals and experimenting with techniques to ease the long journeys the Zelandonii must take while honing her skills as a healer and a leader. And there are the Sacred Caves that Ayla’s mentor takes her to see. They are filled with remarkable paintings of mammoths, lions, and bears, and their mystical aura at times overwhelms Ayla. But all the time Ayla has spent in training rituals has caused Jondalar to drift away from her. The rituals themselves bring her close to death, but through them Ayla gains A Gift of Knowledge so important that it will change her world. BONUS: This edition contains a reading guide and an interview with Jean M. Auel. Sixth in the acclaimed Earth’s Children® series. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Clan of the Cave Bear (with Bonus Content) Jean M. Auel, 2010-10-06 This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves The Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly—she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. This eBook includes the full text of the novel plus the following additional content: • An Earth’s Children® series sampler including free chapters from the other books in Jean M. Auel’s bestselling series • A Q&A with the author about the Earth’s Children® series |
| clan of cave bear author: The Earth's Children Series 6-Book Bundle Jean M. Auel, 2013-02-18 A literary phenomenon, Jean M. Auel’s prehistoric odyssey is one of the best-loved sagas of our time. Employing meticulous research and the consummate artistry of a master storyteller, Auel paints a vivid panorama of the dawn of modern humans. Through Ayla, an orphaned girl who grows into a beautiful and courageous young woman, we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world, home to the Clan of the Cave Bear. Now, for the first time, all six novels in the Earth’s Children® series are available in one convenient eBook bundle: THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR THE VALLEY OF HORSES THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS THE PLAINS OF PASSAGE THE SHELTERS OF STONE THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES A natural disaster leaves a young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly—she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become the Clan’s next leader sees Ayla’s differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. Praise for the Earth’s Children® series “Auel is a highly imaginative writer. She humanizes prehistory and gives it immediacy and clarity.”—The New York Times Book Review “Storytelling in the grand tradition . . . From the violent panorama of spring on the steppes to musicians jamming on a mammoth-bone marimba, Auel’s books are a stunning example of world building. They join the short list of books, like James Clavell’s Shogun and Frank Herbert’s Dune, that depict exotic societies so vividly that readers almost regard them as ‘survival manuals.’ ”—Vogue “Jean Auel has established herself as one of our premier storytellers. . . . Her narrative skill is supreme.”—Chicago Tribune “Pure entertainment at its sublime, wholly exhilarating best.”—Los Angeles Times “Readers who fell in love with little Ayla will no doubt revel in her prehistoric womanhood.”—People “Lively and interesting, enhanced greatly by the vividly colored backdrop of early humanity . . . Auel is a prodigious researcher.”—The Washington Post Book World “Among modern epic spinners, Auel has few peers. . . . She deftly creates a whole world, giving a sense of the origins of class, ethnic, and cultural differences that alternately divide and fascinate us today.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) |
| clan of cave bear author: The Clan of the Cave Bear Jean M. Auel, 1984-11-01 This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly—she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Valley of Horses Jean M. Auel, 2002-06-25 This unforgettable odyssey into the distant past carries us back to the awesome mysteries of the exotic, primeval world of The Clan of the Cave Bear, and to Ayla, now grown into a beautiful and courageous young woman. Cruelly cast out by the new leader of the ancient Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla leaves those she loves behind and travels alone through a stark, open land filled with dangerous animals but few people, searching for the Others, tall and fair like herself. The short summer gives her little time to look, and when she finds a sheltered valley with a herd of hardy steppe horses, she decides to stay and prepare for the long glacial winter ahead. Living with the Clan has taught Ayla many skills but not real hunting. She finally knows she can survive when she traps a horse, which gives her meat and a warm pelt for the winter, but fate has bestowed a greater gift, an orphaned foal with whom she develops a unique kinship. One winter extends to more; she discovers a way to make fire more quickly and a wounded cave lion cub joins her unusual family, but her beloved animals don’t fulfill her restless need for human companionship. Then she hears the sound of a man screaming in pain. She saves tall, handsome Jondalar, who brings her a language to speak and an awakening of love and desire, but Ayla is torn between her fear of leaving her valley and her hope of living with her own kind. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Mammoth Hunters (with Bonus Content) Jean M. Auel, 2010-10-06 Set in the challenging terrain of Ice Age Europe that millions of Jean Auel’s readers have come to treasure, The Mammoth Hunters is an epic novel of love, knowledge, jealousy, and hard choices—a novel certain to garner Jean Auel even greater acclaim as a master storyteller of the dawn of humanity. Ayla, the independent heroine of The Clan of the Cave Bear and The Valley of Horses, sets out from the valley on Whinney, the horse she tamed. With her is Jondalar, the tall, handsome, yellow-haired man she nursed back to health and came to love. Together they meet the Mamutoi—the Mammoth Hunters—people like Ayla. But to Ayla, who was raised by the Clan of the Cave Bear, they are “the Others.” She approaches them with mixed feelings of fear and curiosity. Talut, a powerful bear of a man with bright red hair, a booming laugh, and a gentle heart, and his tall, dark-haired sister, Tulie, are the leaders of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi. It is here that Ayla finds her first women friends, but some among the Mamutoi dislike Ayla because she was raised by “flatheads,” their name for the people of the Clan. Ayla is haunted by her memories of the Clan because Rydag, a child of mixed parentage living with the Mamutoi, bears so strong a resemblance to her own son, Durc. It is the Mamutoi master carver of ivory—dark-skinned Ranec, flirtatious, artistic, magnetic—who fascinates Ayla. She finds herself drawn to him. Because of her uncanny control over animals, her healing skills, and the magic firestone she discovered, Ayla is adopted into the Mammoth Hearth by Mamut, the ancient shaman of the Great Earth Mother. Ayla finds herself torn between her strong feelings for Ranec and her powerful love for the wildly jealous and unsure Jondalar. It is not until after the great mammoth hunt, when Ayla’s life is threatened, that a fateful decision is made. This eBook includes the full text of the novel plus the following additional content: • An Earth’s Children® series sampler including free chapters from the other books in Jean M. Auel’s bestselling series • A Q&A with the author about the Earth’s Children® series |
| clan of cave bear author: The Plains of Passage (with Bonus Content) Jean M. Auel, 2010-10-06 Ayla, the heroine first introduced in The Clan of the Cave Bear, is known and loved by millions of readers. Now, in The Plains of Passage, Ayla’s story continues. Ayla and Jondalar set out on horseback across the windswept grasslands of Ice Age Europe. To the hunter-gatherers of their world--who have never seen tame animals--Ayla and Jondalar appear enigmatic and frightening. The mystery surrounding the woman, who speaks with a strange accent and talks to animals with their own sounds, is heightened by her uncanny control of a large, powerful wolf. The tall, yellow-haired man who rides by her side is also held in awe, not only for the magnificent stallion he commands, but also for his skill as a crafter of stone tools, and for the new weapon he devises, the spear-thrower. In the course of their cross-continental odyssey, Ayla and Jondalar encounter both savage enemies and brave friends. Together they learn that the vast and unknown world can be difficult and treacherous, but breathtakingly beautiful and enlightening as well. All the pain and pleasure bring them closer to their ultimate destination, for the orphaned Ayla and the wandering Jondalar must reach that place on earth they can call home. As sweeping and spectacular as the land she creates, Jean M. Auel’s The Plains of Passage is an astonishing novel of discovery, danger, and love, a triumph for one of the world’s most original and popular authors. This eBook includes the full text of the novel plus the following additional content: • An Earth’s Children® series sampler including free chapters from the other books in Jean M. Auel’s bestselling series • A Q&A with the author about the Earth’s Children® series |
| clan of cave bear author: The Clan of the Cave Bear Jean M. Auel, 2002-06-25 This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly—she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Summoning God Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear, 2012-03-13 Book II of the Anasazi Mysteries from New York Times bestselling authors Kathleen O'Neal Gear and Michael W. Gear, The Summoning God is more than a superb murder mystery, it is a psychological thriller with blockbuster action, romance and suspense, and best of all a dynamic plot that will have you holding your breath waiting for the nest step down the dark labyrinth of their serial murderer's mind. When world-renowned Canadian Physical Anthropologist, Dr. Maureen Cole, is called to the United States to analyze burials found in an ancient subterranean ceremonial chamber, she is stunned to discover the burned bodies of thirty-three children and two adults. The children were burned in the flesh, meaning they were alive when the fire started, but was the fire an accident or deliberately set? The scattered, mutilated remains of the adults give Maureen her first clue. In order to solve the mystery she must work with American archaeologist William Dusty Stewart. They've worked on two archaeological projects in the past and get along like a mongoose and a cobra. Now they must work together to discover the dark and terrible secret of an ancient people. The Gears seamlessly weave together modern archaeology and ancient history. Like all of their books, The Summoning God is based on real archaeological sites that tell a terrifying story of North America eight hundred years ago. Breathtaking descriptions evoke the harsh beauty of the desert, while the lucid, erudite historical perspectives are informed by the authors' own extensive archeological experience. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. |
| clan of cave bear author: Us Conductors Sean Michaels, 2014-06-10 A Russian spy and scientist imparts to his paramour interconnected memories detailing his early days as a Bolshevik-era theremin innovator through his Moscow imprisonment and assignments to eavesdrop on Stalin. By the award-winning founder of the Said the Gramophone blog. Original. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Poisoned Island Lloyd Shepherd, 2013-02-28 Author of The English Monster takes us on another voyage of discovery from Kew Gardens to the island of Otaheite by way of a murder investigation. LONDON 1812: For forty years Britain has dreamed of the Pacific island of Tahiti, a dark paradise of bloody cults and beautiful natives. Now, decades after the first voyage of Captain Cook, a new ship returns to London, crammed with botanical specimens and, it seems, the mysteries of Tahiti. When, days after the Solander's arrival, some of its crew are found dead and their sea-chests ransacked - their throats slashed, faces frozen into terrible smiles - John Harriott, magistrate of the Thames river police, puts constable Charles Horton in charge of the investigation. But what connects the crewmen's dying dreams with the ambitions of the ship's principal backer, Sir Joseph Banks of the Royal Society? And how can Britain's new science possibly explain the strangeness of Tahiti's floral riches now growing at Kew? Horton must employ his singular methods to uncover a chain of conspiracy stretching all the way back to the foot of the great dead volcano Tahiti Nui, beneath the hungry eyes of ancient gods. 'I loved it! Very stylish, very ingenious and very well-written' Joanne Harris 'Shepherd adroitly blurs fact and fiction with a hint of the fantastic, creating his own superior blend of historical crime fiction' Financial Times 'Georgian London is vividly brought to life … A gutsy, involving yarn' Guardian |
| clan of cave bear author: The Clan of the Cave Bear Jean M. Auel, 1980 An all-absorbing journey into man's possible past. Jean M. Auel, a storytelling genius, weaves a compellingly readable saga of human survival; an epic that transcends time and place. It is peopled with rich and complex characters who experience the full range of human emotions. All this makes for total involvement and believability in the light of today. A novel for all time. |
| clan of cave bear author: Reindeer Moon Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, 2015-03-17 “A whole culture is imaginatively and authoritatively illuminated” in this “suspenseful, insightful, poignant” novel of prehistoric times (Publishers Weekly). Twenty thousand years ago, a courageous girl lived in Siberia near Woman Lake, a place you won’t find on any modern map. Only thirteen, Yanan and her companions—hunters of deer, gatherers of roots and twigs—struggle to survive the harsh realities of hunger and cold, bound by an unending cycle of birth, kinship, violence, and death. As Yanan recounts the terrible adventures of her brief life, she departs on spirit journeys that evoke the lives of the animals to which she and her people are intimately linked. A lyrical novel of our species’ prehistory, Reindeer Moon opens up corridors to the imagination that lead us back to the long-forgotten echoes of our distant human past. “Unforgettable . . . Reindeer Moon beautifully resurrects a lost world of merciless magnificence. Dozens of memorable characters live and die in this moving tale, which should become a classic.” —Chicago Tribune Book World “Those familiar with the author’s landmark study, The Harmless People, will not be surprised at the range of anthropological information she brings to her first novel, or at the lucidity of her prose. What will astonish, engross and move readers in her narrative of a group of hunter-gatherers who lived 20,000 years ago is the dramatic immediacy of the story and the depth and range of character development.” —Publishers Weekly |
| clan of cave bear author: The Last Neanderthal Claire Cameron, 2017-04-25 **Finalist for the 2017 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize **Winner of the 2018 Evergreen Award **National Bestseller **A National Post Best Book of 2017 From the bestselling author of The Bear, the enthralling story of two women separated by millennia, but linked by an epic journey that will transform them both 40,000 years in the past, the last family of Neanderthals roams the earth. After a crushingly hard winter, their numbers are low, but Girl, the oldest daughter, is just coming of age and her family is determined to travel to the annual meeting place and find her a mate. But the unforgiving landscape takes its toll, and Girl is left alone to care for Runt, a foundling of unknown origin. As Girl and Runt face the coming winter storms, Girl realizes she has one final chance to save her people, even if it means sacrificing part of herself. In the modern day, archaeologist Rosamund Gale works well into her pregnancy, racing to excavate newly found Neanderthal artifacts before her baby comes. Linked across the ages by the shared experience of early motherhood, both stories examine the often taboo corners of women's lives. Haunting, suspenseful, and profoundly moving, The Last Neanderthal asks us to reconsider all we think we know about what it means to be human. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Shelters of Stone Jean M. Auel, 2010-12-21 The fifth novel in the Earth's Children series, Jean M. Auel's internationally bestselling reconstruction of pre-historic life, when two kinds of human beings, Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon, shared the earth. Ayla and Jondalar have reached home: the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, the old stone age settlement in the region known today as south-west France. Ayla has much to learn from the Zelandonii as well as much to teach them. Jondalar's family are initially wary of the beautiful young woman he has brought back, with her strange accent and her tame wolf and horses. She is delighted when she meets Zelandoni, the spiritual leader of her people, a fellow healer with whom she can share her medicinal skills. After the rigours and dangers that have characterised her extraordinary life, Ayla yearns for peace and tranquility; to be Jondalar's mate and to have children. But her unique spiritual gifts cannot be ignored, and even as she gives birth to their eagerly-awaited child, she is coming to accept that she has a greater role to play in the destiny of the Zelandonii. Set 25,000 years in the past, yet utterly relatable today, The Shelters of Stone is an epic tale of love, identity and the struggle to survive, rich in detail of language, culture, myth and ritual. Praise for Jean M. Auel 'Beautiful, exciting, imaginative' New York Times 'A major bestseller . . . A remarkable work of imagination' Daily Express |
| clan of cave bear author: The Best American Short Stories 2019 Anthony Doerr, Heidi Pitlor, 2019 Presents a selection of the best works of short fiction of the past year from a variety of acclaimed sources. |
| clan of cave bear author: Daughter of the Red Deer Joan Wolf, 2022-02-22 Filled with the lyrical beauty of a now-vanished world, this magnificent novel unfolds during the last great ice age, amid the mist-shrouded mountains of the Pyrenees in prehistoric France. When tainted spring water fatally poisons the women of the tribe of the Horse, the clan’s young men set forth to kidnap new women from the matriarchal tribe of the Red Deer—a quest that must succeed or their people will die out. Golden-haired Mar, the leader of the young men, falls in love with the beautiful Alin, daughter of the Red Deer priestess. And though they are born to embrace different traditions, raised to worship different gods, Mar will fight to claim this strangely powerful woman as his own. Against a lush backdrop of ancient magic, mammoth hunts, and secret rites, this mesmerizing novel brings to life the ritual and adventure of a primeval world and tells a timeless tale of conflict between two societies…two beliefs…two sexes…and two people. |
| clan of cave bear author: Tarin of the Mammoths: Cave Bear Mountain (BK3) Jo Sandhu, 2018-02-26 At Cave Bear Mountain, Tarin is given tragic news about his Clan, and wants to return to them immediately. But Kaija and Luuka have discovered an astonishing truth about their mother. It seems the friends will be divided. But when the wolf cubs are kidnapped to fight in the Bear Festival, only together will they have a chance of saving them . . . |
| clan of cave bear author: Nell and the Cave Bear Martin Brown, 2021-09 |
| clan of cave bear author: Prisoners Without Bars Donna O'Donnell Figurski, 2018-11-01 “Laugh! Cry! G-A-S-P! This heart-wrenching and triumphant love story is a tale of advocacy and caregiving. Donna's husband, David, stumbled into their bedroom, his hand covering a blood-filled eye from a brain hemorrhage. Donna called 9-1-1. David slipped into a coma. At that moment, Donna was thrust onto the path of caregiver for her best friend and the love of her life. In her debut memoir, Donna shares how a neurosurgeon said that David would make a great organ donor. She writes of arrogant doctors, uncaring visitors, insensitive ambulance drivers, and problematic nurses. She also tells of the many compassionate doctors, nurses, therapists, staff, strangers, family members, and friends who helped them on their journey. Donna compellingly describes her ability to appear positive as she experiences the horror of making life-or-death decisions. As her world crashes, she credits laughter as her lifesaver. More than thirteen years later, Donna and David are living a new normal together. |
| clan of cave bear author: Zulu Heart Steven Barnes, 2018-04-25 Steven Barnes delivers the explosive follow-up to his groundbreaking alternate history novel Lion's Blood in Zulu Heart, a tale of racial unrest in a reimagined America circa 1860. Set in the late 1800s in an alternate universe in which Africa colonized the Americas, Zulu Heart continues the stories of two men from very different backgrounds. Kai is a politically important Ethiopian nobleman; Aidan, a white Irishman who was until recently Kai's slave. But just as the promise of freedom has separated these two men's fates, racial discourse is about to reunite them. A rebellion is building toward civil war. Loyalties are being drawn along the lines of homelands, namely Egypt and Ethiopia, and causing the New World to be torn into a North and a South—with Kai and Aidan caught in the crossfire. |
| clan of cave bear author: Lord of the Flies William Golding, 2012-09-20 A plane crashes on a desert island and the only survivors, a group of schoolboys, assemble on the beach and wait to be rescued. By day they inhabit a land of bright fantastic birds and dark blue seas, but at night their dreams are haunted by the image of a terrifying beast. As the boys' delicate sense of order fades, so their childish dreams are transformed into something more primitive, and their behaviour starts to take on a murderous, savage significance. First published in 1954, Lord of the Flies is one of the most celebrated and widely read of modern classics. Now fully revised and updated, this educational edition includes chapter summaries, comprehension questions, discussion points, classroom activities, a biographical profile of Golding, historical context relevant to the novel and an essay on Lord of the Flies by William Golding entitled 'Fable'. Aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4 students, it also includes a section on literary theory for advanced or A-level students. The educational edition encourages original and independent thinking while guiding the student through the text - ideal for use in the classroom and at home. |
| clan of cave bear author: Dances with Wolves Michael Blake, 1988-08-12 Ordered to hold an abandoned army post, John Dunbar found himself alone, beyond the edge of civilization. Thievery and survival soon forced him into the Indian camp, where he began a dangerous adventure that changed his life forever. Relive the adventure and beauty of the incredible movie, DANCES WITH WOLVES. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Prophet's Wife Libbie Grant, 2022-03-01 A sweeping, lyrical tale of historical fiction that tells the unbelievable story of the early days of the Mormon church through the eyes of the woman who saw it all—Emma, the first wife of the prophet Joseph Smith. In 1825, in rural Pennsylvania, Emma Hale marries an itinerant treasure-digger, a man who has nothing but a peep-stone in his pocket and a conviction that he can speak directly to God. His name is Joseph Smith and in a few short years, he will found his own religion, gather zealous adherents by the tens of thousands, and fracture Emma’s life and faith While the Mormon religion finds its feet and runs beyond the grasp of its founder, Emma struggles to maintain her place in Joseph’s heart—and in the religion that has become her world. The Mormons make themselves outcasts everywhere they go. Joseph can only maintain his authority by issuing ever-stranger commandments on God’s behalf, culminating in an edict that men should marry as many women as they please. The Mormons’ adoption of polygamy only sets them further apart, and soon their communities are ravaged by violence at the hands of their outraged fellow Americans. For Emma, things take a more personal toll as Joseph brings in a new wife—a woman whom Emma considers a sister. As Emma’s family grows along with Joseph’s infamy, she knows there will never be peace until Joseph faces the law. But on the half-wild edge of the frontier, he’s more likely to find death at the hands of a vigilante posse than a fair trial. For the sake of her people—and her soul—Emma must convince the Prophet of God to surrender... and perhaps to sacrifice his life. |
| clan of cave bear author: Moctu and the Mammoth People Neil Bockoven, 2019-07-15 Moctu and the Mammoth People is a compelling, well-researched story of a strong, young, dark-skinned Cro-Magnon boy who must fight his rival for leadership of his tribe and the right to mate the beautiful Nuri. Additionally, Moctu has confrontations with the Pale Ones, a fierce group of Neanderthals also called the People Eaters, as the two cultures interact in Paleolithic Italy 45,000 years ago. Besides having dangerous encounters with mammoths, wolves, and saber-tooth tigers, Moctu has to deal with his older rival, Jabil, who fights and undermines him at every opportunity. After Jabil murders several elders who go against him, he deftly shifts blame onto the Pale Ones. He takes over as the tribe's leader and makes Moctu's life miserable. On a hunting trip, Moctu is captured and enslaved by the Pale Ones. While with them, Moctu is shocked to discover that, although these primitive people know little about spear-throwers or making clothes, they can make fire, and he learns the skill. He meets the blond and fair-skinned Effie and over time, he recognizes that his hate for the Pale Ones was misplaced. Realizing that Nuri by now has been mated to Jabil, Moctu falls in love with Effie and has a child. But when he uncovers evidence that Jabil murdered his tribesmen, Moctu knows he must return home and mount a challenge. In the interim, Nuri has had to deal with emotional and physical adversities including coming of age and being mated to a man she despises. When Moctu returns, can he overcome Jabil? How will Nuri react? The interspecies conflict may also get Moctu or Effie killed. |
| clan of cave bear author: Earth's Children Omnibus Jean M. Auel, 2015-12-17 A true publishing phenomenon, Jean M. Auel's prehistoric odyssey is one of the best-loved sagas of our time. Leave 21st century London and go back to Ice Age Europe. Follow Ayla, a Cro-Magnon child who loses her parents in an earthquake and is adopted by a tribe of Neanderthal, the Clan. See how the Clan's wary suspicion is gradually transformed into acceptance of this girl, so different from them, under the guidance of its medicine woman Iza and its wise holy man Creb. Immerse yourself in a world dictated by the demands of survival in a hostile environment, and be swept away in an epic tale of love, identity and struggle. All six parts of the legendary Earth's Children® series are brought together in this eBook omnibus THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR THE VALLEY OF HORSES THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS THE PLAINS OF PASSAGE THE SHELTERS OF STONE THE LAND OF PAINTED CAVES Jean Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived thousands of years ago, rendering the terrain, dwelling places, longings, beliefs, creativity and daily lives of Ice Age Europeans as real to the reader as today's news. 'Among modern epic spinners, Auel has few peers.' - Kirkus Reviews |
| clan of cave bear author: Raptor Red Robert T. Bakker, 1996-08-01 A pair of fierce but beautiful eyes look out from the undergrowth of conifers. She is an intelligent killer... So begins one of the most extraordinary novels you will ever read. The time is 120 million years ago, the place is the plains of prehistoric Utah, and the eyes belong to an unforgettable heroine. Her name is Raptor Red, and she is a female Raptor dinosaur. Painting a rich and colorful picture of a lush prehistoric world, leading paleontologist Robert T. Bakker tells his story from within Raptor Red's extraordinary mind, dramatizing his revolutionary theories in this exciting tale. From a tragic loss to the fierce struggle for survival to a daring migration to the Pacific Ocean to escape a deadly new predator, Raptor Red combines fact an fiction to capture for the first time the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of the most magnificent, enigmatic creatures ever to walk the face of the earth. |
| clan of cave bear author: People of the Wolf Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear, 2009-11-03 A sweeping epic of prehistory, People of the Wolf is another compelling novel in the majestic North America's Forgotten Past series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear In the dawn of history, a valiant people forged a pathway from an old world into a new one. Led by a dreamer who followed the spirit of the wolf, a handful of courageous men and women dared to cross the frozen wastes to find an untouched, unspoiled continent. Set in what is now Alaska, this is the magnificent saga of the vision-filled man who led his people to an awesome destiny, and the courageous woman whose love and bravery drove them on in pursuit of that dream. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. |
| clan of cave bear author: Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe, 1994-09-01 “A true classic of world literature . . . A masterpiece that has inspired generations of writers in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world.” —Barack Obama “African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe.” —Toni Morrison Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities. |
| clan of cave bear author: Picture Maker Penina Spinka, 2010-05-07 A brilliant, powerful, historical saga – a grand epic by a prize-winning children's author. The world of 14th-century America is unknown to most readers and Penina Spinka's remarkable novel brings it triumphantly alive, from the tribal wars through to the Norse invasions and the fiercely resisted Christianity. |
| clan of cave bear author: A History of Wild Places Shea Ernshaw, 2021-12-07 In this “riveting, atmospheric thriller that messes with your mind in the best way” (Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author), three residents of a secluded, seemingly peaceful commune investigate the disappearances of two outsiders. Travis Wren has an unusual talent for locating missing people. Often hired by families as a last resort, he takes on the case of Maggie St. James—a well-known author of dark, macabre children’s books—and is soon led to a place many believed to be only a legend. Called Pastoral, this reclusive community was founded in the 1970s by like-minded people searching for a simpler way of life. By all accounts, the commune shouldn’t exist anymore and soon after Travis stumbles upon it…he disappears. Just like Maggie St. James. Years later, Theo, a lifelong member of Pastoral, discovers Travis’s abandoned truck beyond the border of the community. No one is allowed in or out, not when there’s a risk of bringing a disease—rot—into Pastoral. Unraveling the mystery of what happened reveals secrets that Theo, his wife, Calla, and her sister, Bee, keep from one another. Secrets that prove their perfect, isolated world isn’t as safe as they believed—and that darkness takes many forms. “As spine-chilling as it is beautifully crafted” (Ruth Emmie Lang, author of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance), A History of Wild Places is a story about fairy tales, our fear of the dark, and losing yourself within the wilderness of your mind. |
| clan of cave bear author: Outside Over There Maurice Sendak, 2002 While Ida is busy playing her wonder horn, goblins come in through the window and kidnap her baby sister. If Ida is to save her, she must follow the goblins into the outside over there and use her wonder music to defeat them . . . |
| clan of cave bear author: Dance of the Tiger Björn Kurtén, 1995-10-10 Björn Kurtén's compelling novel gives the reader a detailed picture of life 35,000 years ago in Western Europe. One of the world's leading scholars of Ice Age fauna, Kurtén fuses extraordinary knowledge and imagination in this vivid evocation of our deepest past. This novel illuminates the lives of the humans who left us magnificent paintings in the caves of France and Spain. |
| clan of cave bear author: The Nature of Paleolithic Art R. Dale Guthrie, 2005 Publisher Description |
| clan of cave bear author: Into the Wilderness Sara Donati, 2010-09-01 Weaving a tapestry of fact and fiction, Sara Donati’s epic novel sweeps us into another time and place . . . and into a breathtaking story of love and survival in a land of savage beauty. It is December of 1792. Elizabeth Middleton leaves her comfortable English estate to join her family in a remote New York mountain village. It is a place unlike any she has ever experienced. And she meets a man unlike any she has ever encountered—a white man dressed like a Native American: Nathaniel Bonner, known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village, Elizabeth soon finds herself locked in conflict with the local slave owners as well as with her own family. Interweaving the fate of the Mohawk Nation with the destiny of two lovers, Sara Donati’s compelling novel creates a complex, profound, passionate portait of an emerging America. Praise for Into the Wilderness “My favorite kind of book is the sort you live in, rather than read. Into the Wilderness is one of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place. I can think of no better adventure than to explore the wilderness in the company of such engaging and independent lovers as Elizabeth and her Nathaniel.”—Diana Gabaldon “Each time you open a book you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise.”—Amanda Quick “A beautiful tale of both romance and survival…Here is the beauty as well as the savagery of the wilderness and, at the core of it all, the compelling story of the love of a man and a woman, both for the untamed land and for one another.”—Allan W. Eckert “Lushly written . . . Exemplary historical fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews “Epic in scope, emotionally intense.”—BookPage |
| clan of cave bear author: The Clan of the Cave Bear Proof Jean M. Auel, 2010-10-01 |
| clan of cave bear author: Blood Feud Rosemary Sutcliff, 2013-10-30 Jestyn the Englishman had once been Thormod the Viking's slave, but after saving Thormod's life he became his shoulder to shoulder man and sworn brother in the deadly blood feud to avenge Thormod's murdered father, a feud that would take them all the way to Constantinople. |
| clan of cave bear author: Let the Drum Speak Linda Lay Shuler, 2013-07-23 A novel on an Indian shaman in 13th Century America. She is Antelope, a blue-eyed Anazasi who becomes the object of desire and fear of the ruler of the City of the Great Sun. He desires her because she is beautiful and fears her because of her powers to communicate with spirits and foretell the future. By the author of She Who Remembers. |
| clan of cave bear author: My Old Sweetheart Susanna Moore, 1997-07-29 Susanna Moore's novel astonished me--one of those brilliant objects that come along only rarely, all light on clear water, and then one realizes the faster currents underneath, the terrible swiftness of sex and time. --Joan Didion In this mesmerizing novel, Susanna Moore displays a naturalist's eye for the landscape of her native Hawaii and an uncanny sensitivity to the despairing love between mothers and daughters. Lily Shields grows up amid the fragrance of night-jasmine and burning sugar cane, and the heady atmosphere of her mother's madness. For if Anna Shields is an island unto herself--fragile, glamorous, and fearfully needy--Lily is the bridge that connects her to reality. But now Lily is a young woman and a mother herself, self-exiled from Hawaii but still attached to Anna's tragedy. And as she tries to untangle those threads of love and loyalty, Moore gives us a novel of shimmering beauty and sadness. My Old Sweetheart is a small classic, perfectly formed and mysteriously wise. Susanna Moore is a gifted and compelling novelist . . . in possession of her own unique voice. --The New York Times Book Review I can't recall another novel like this about mothers and daughters. . . . Lily's mysterious, half-told tale delighted and touched me. --Susan Lydon, Village Voice |
