Title: The Eternal Forest
Author: Godwin, George. Thomson, Robert S. (editor). With an Introduction By George Woodcock
Publisher: Godwin Books, Van Nuys, CA
Publication year: 1994
Condition: Near Fine Plus
Dust jacket: Near Fine Plus
Binding: Hard Cover
Language: English
ISBN 10: 0969677421
ISBN 13: 9780969677420
Edition: Re-issue.
Seller catalogs: Canadian Literature

George Godwin (1889-1974) and his wife Dorothy immigrate to Canada in 1912. They remain for four years then return to England for good. “The Eternal Forest” tells the story of their life in Whonnock, a small rural community on the north bank of the lower Fraser River. It is not clear why the Godwins choose Whonnock. It might have been just a whim. Whatever the case, they buy land, clear it, build a house and then try unsuccessfully to make a living from fruit farming. When they attempt to sell their house they fail. (The rest of their story is told in a sequel, "Why stay we here?" (1931). “The Eternal Forest” will appear years later, in 1929. It had good reviews in England but only one printing. Godwin’s great-nephew, Robert Thomson, reprinted the book in 1994 and added several things: a preface by George Woodcock, archival photos, footnotes, and 19 pages from Godwin’s private journal. (In 2002 Thomson also reprinted “Why stay we here?”) There are three main facets to "The Eternal Forest": (a) the Godwins’ struggle to make a living; (b) their somewhat eccentric neighbors in Whonnock; (c) Godwin’s critique of the political, social and economic realities of Canada. He attacks mendacious advertising in real estate and the oil industry; the perplexing boom and bust economic cycles; corruption in the provincial government; the unfairness of Canada’s immigration policy which bans East Indian women; the ghettoization of the Chinese in Vancouver; the low cost of Chinese labor which makes it hard to compete with them; the widespread fears among white settlers that the Japanese receive hidden subsidies from the Tokyo government, etc. On the positive side of the ledger Godwin appreciates the relative unimportance of social standing in Canadian society and the generosity of neighbors. The Swede Johannson helps him clear his land and build a house. The radical Dunn offers friendship and knowledge and the two spend many hours discussing what Canada has become and how far she falls short of her potential. Godwin is enchanted with the great beauty of the Fraser Valley rain forest and spends many hours in it as he reflects on his life, past, present and future. Two of the best reviews to appear on “The Eternal Forest” were written by Brian Elliott and Claire Butler. Here are some snippets from Elliott in BC Studies (summer of 1996): “There are the resourceful Olsens who have all the skills to endure and prosper in the wilderness; the patient Swede, Johansson, who helps Godwin build a house; Old Man Dunn with his socialist and cooperative views; the voluptuous Mrs. Armstrong who runs a boarding house-cum brothel; the vicar’s wife who alientates the whole village with her snobbery; Blanchard the gossipy storekeeper; Stein the Austrian, a model farmer and voyeur. who will suffer ostracizing from 1914 on. On the margins of this society we read of others, identified as Red Men, Orientals, Japs, and Hindus, viewed by the settlers with condescension, but also with fear.” Claire Butler in National History (2000) writes this: “The descriptive passages of the surrounding forest are beautifully written, sensual and evocative. We see it through the Newcomer’s [Godwin’s] eyes, in all seasons and moods: the alluring shimmer of summer; the drumming of rain in the bush; the feel of a damp forest floor. It is here that Godwin’s spiritual self finds genuine succor, for the forest ‘got hold of you and made you think, it gave you your place in the universe, taught you the significance and the insignificance of man; it whispered of God’. This is the forest of Emily Carr’s paintings: rhythmic, animate, a world of secrets and mysteries. (…) This book is that rarest of historical sources: disturbingly relevant." For further details about both books visit Thomson’s website: www.godwinbooks.com

"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Godwin was born into a large middle-class British family (4 brothers, 3 sisters). At age five he loses his father. He attends private schools (Glenrock, St. Lawrence College) but is so unhappy there that his mother sends him to school in Dresden where he stays with his older sister who is studying voice at the conservatory. Godwin thrives in Germany, learns German, makes good friends and develops a lifelong passion for Goethe, Schiller and Wagner. Godwin’s positive experiences in Germany account for his sympathetic attitude towards German soldiers in Why stay we here? Upon his return to England Godwin works in a bank and studies law by correspondence course. For reasons unknown he sets off for British Columbia in 1912. He sends for his fiancée Dorothy, marries her, and they attempt (unsuccessfully) to make a living fruit farming in Whonnock. This is described in The Eternal Forest. With the outbreak of war in 1914 the Godwins resist involvement and become recluses. By 1916, however, they realize that they must return to England. Godwin signs on with the Canadian Army and sees action in France. After 18 months he is invalided out with T.B. and sent to B.C. to recuperate at a sanitorium. In 1920 Godwin returns to England, finishes his legal studies and settles down to practice law at the Middle Temple. He will lead a productive life, practising law, raising a family (four boys, one girl) and writing books, 17 of them in all, four of which touch on Canada: The Future of Canada (1928); The Eternal Forest (1929); Why stay we here? (1931); and Vancouver, a Life (a biography of the famous mariner), also in 1931. All of Godwin’s books were out of print until his great-nephew, Robert Thomson, reprinted The Eternal Forest (in 1994) and Why stay we here? (in 2002). Thomson added several things to the original editions: an introduction, a preface, a table of contents, footnotes and archival photographs. See www.godwinbooks.com for sample passages, reviews, etc.

"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Purpora Books

Comox, BC, Canada

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since August 30, 1997

Shipping rates from Canada to U.S.A.

Item	10 to 20 business days	5 to 10 business days
First item	£ 14.34	£ 26.42

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

Specialty

US & UK Modern First Editions, Antiquarian, Art & Photography, Canadiana, Vancouver Island Local Histories, Canadian Literature First Editions

Seller's business information

Purpora Books

BC, Canada

Contact sellerView this seller's itemsView seller's storefront

Terms of sale

Charles Purpora owns and operates Purpora Books at 1805 Butler Road, Comox,
British Columbia, Canada, and can be reached by e-mail at
charles@purporabooks.com or by phone at 250-890-1077.
Prices are in US dollars. Books are offered by mail; also our bookroom is open
by appointment - please call ahead. We also have a selection of over 4,000
additional books at Browns Books, a general used book store in north Burnaby
near the Vancouver border (3740 Hastings Street). Payment options include
cheque, money order, PayPal, or credit card options available through Abebooks.
For customers in Canada, the HST/GST is included in the price.
Books are returnable for full refund if done so within 10 days of receipt.
Please notify Purpora Books in advance of any returns.

Reciprocal discount offered to the trade.

Book condition is based on the following guidelines: Fine - a copy with only a
very minor flaw and may actually be new and unread; Near Fine - a copy with a
more significant flaw or several minor flaws and/or with an overall feel and
appearance of a lightly used book; Very Good - a more worn copy but still in
collectible condition. Book plates, remainder marks, previous owner names,
price-clipped dust jackets and store stamps are always mentioned.

A scan of a book cover is available upon request.

Right of withdrawal

If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

Information regarding the right of withdrawal

Statutory right to withdraw

You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.

Effects of withdrawal

If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Purpora Books, Comox, British Columbia, Canada, +1 250-890-1077, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of withdrawal

The right of withdrawal does not apply to:

The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.

Shipping terms

Orders usually ship within 2 business days. All books are shipped well protected.
Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is
heavy or over-sized, we may contact you about extra shipping charges being
required; conversely, thin, light books will ship for less in Canada and U.S.A.
(an adjustment to the shipping charge will be made after we receive your order at
the default rate).

The Eternal Forest

Item description from seller

Bibliographic details

Synopsis

About the title

About the Author

Purpora Books

Shipping rates from Canada to U.S.A.

Payment methods

Specialty

Seller's business information

Terms of sale

Right of withdrawal

Shipping terms