A Shadow Passes

by Eden Phillpotts, Mikalojus Ciurlionis (Illustrations)

This is a book beautiful: not for rich format, fine printing and exquisite binding (though in these respects it is fair enough); but rather for the fact that within its covers a beautiful life's golden treasury of spiritual insight, judgment, and appreciation has been gathered, the jewels in the crown of one soul's journey through the world.
"A Shadow Passes" is Eden Phillpotts' "book of thoughts," a sort of journal of the lovely things he has seen and heard in the path of life; but each "thought" is related definitely with every other "thought," so that the subject has unity in the fullest sense-as a man's philosophy indubitably should, if well and carefully organized. Thus the reader learns what the author thinks of God and Nature; the earth and its riches; man and his struggle; the soul and its passion; the heart and its romance; death and victory; sorrow, joy, faith and doubt; life in all its phases. And each "thought" is a prose poem, carefully modeled by a master hand. If Eden Phillpotts had written nothing else, his name should live.
Only an artist could have written:
"No light promised at sunset, yet just before hope died, one great saffron streak broke the western gloom and the dripping winter trees at forest side caught the flash upon their boughs and wove it into a glittering net of amber and gold. The signal and response were instantaneous; then the sunset gleam vanished; but the watchful trees had marked it and achieved another beauty. A great maxim: to lose no chance of achieving beauty."
A more scientific description of the wonderful picture the author saw might have been written, but would our blood have been equally stirred to new singing? With what gentle simplicity the impression is recorded and withal with what majesty! The very smallness of the canvas makes the painting all the fairer.
The glory and the wonder of his native Dartmoor must be a powerful stimulant to such a pen-man. From his cottage windows Phillpotts looks out across a veritable fairyland where everything is vibrant with life, where even the stones breathe; and to this wonderland he is Lord Historian "by special appointment."
-Unity, Volume 85

68 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1919

About the author

See also: Harrington Hext

Eden Philpotts was an English novelist, short-story writer, and playwright with a particular interest in the county of Devon. His works include a cycle of 18 novels set in Dartmoor.

Reviews

[Peter Herrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am only 20% into it so far. Beautifully written (almost poetic) - in a singular style, very readable, and quite philosophical. Will have more to say after finishing.

Won't finish. Just read a Wikipedia article about this author which revealed an appalling fact about him and no longer can stomach reading anything by him.

[George McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking collection of short essays/meditations set in the Devon countryside. Most are structured around some observation Phillpotts makes of the natural world (landscape, weather, wildlife), which is then considered as it represents or contrasts with human nature. Essentially can be thought of as a collection of poems, although as lyrical poetry.

Definitely something that can be slow-read and chewed on.