The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, 1) - Hardcover

Auel, Jean M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0517542021 ISBN 13: 9780517542026

Publisher: Crown Pub, 1980

Synopsis

An injured and orphaned infant carries within her the seed and hope of mankind in this epic of survival and destiny set at the dawn of prehistory

About this title

Review

The Clan of the Cave Bear is the start of Jean M Auel's epic Earth's Children series. When her parents are killed by an earthquake, five-year-old Ayla wanders through the forest completely alone. Cold, hungry, and badly injured by a cave lion, the little girl is as good as gone until she is discovered by a group who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. This clan, left homeless by the same disaster, has little interest in the helpless girl who comes from the tribe they refer to as the "Others". Only their medicine woman sees in Ayla a fellow human, worthy of care. She painstakingly nurses her back to health--a decision that will forever alter the physical and emotional structure of the clan. Although this story takes place roughly 35,000 years ago, its cast of characters could easily slide into any modern tale. The members of the Neanderthal clan, ruled by traditions and taboos, find themselves challenged by this outsider, who represents the physically modern Cro-Magnons. And as Ayla begins to grow and mature, her natural tendencies emerge, putting her in the middle of a brutal and dangerous power struggle.

Although Jean Auel obviously takes certain liberties with the actions and motivations of all our ancestors, her extensive research into the Ice Age does shine through--especially in the detailed knowledge of plants and natural remedies used by the medicine woman and passed down to Ayla. Mostly, though, this first in the series of four is a wonderful story of survival. Ayla's personal evolution is a compelling and relevant tale. --Sara Nickerson, Amazon.com--This text refers to the hardcover edition.

Review

Beautiful, exciting, imaginative (New York Times)

A major bestseller . . . a remarkable work of imagination (Daily Express)

It's nice to rediscover an old classic that, upon reading 30 years after it was first published, still has appeal . . . Auel's simple but engaging storytelling skill is still a joy. (Sunday Mail,Brisbane)

About this edition

• Publisher: Crown Pub
• Publication date: 1980
• ISBN 10: 0517542021
• ISBN 13: 9780517542026
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1