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The Glorious Life of the Oak
'The oak is the wooden tie between heaven and earth. It is the lynch pin of the British landscape.'
The oak is our most beloved and most common tree. It has roots that stretch back to all the old European cultures but Britain has more ancient oaks than all the other European countries put together. More than half the ancient oaks in the world are in Britain.
Many of our ancestors - the Angles, the Saxons, the Norse - came to the British Isles in longships made of oak. For centuries the oak touched every part of a Briton's life - from cradle to coffin It was oak that made the 'wooden walls' of Nelson's navy, and the navy that allowed Britain to rule the world. Even in the digital Apple age, the real oak has resonance - the word speaks of fortitude, antiquity, pastoralism.
The Glorious Life of the Oak explores our long relationship with this iconic tree; it considers the life-cycle of the oak, the flora and fauna that depend on the oak, the oak as medicine, food and drink, where Britain's mightiest oaks can be found, and it tells of oak stories from folklore, myth and legend.
The oak is our most beloved and most common tree. It has roots that stretch back to all the old European cultures but Britain has more ancient oaks than all the other European countries put together. More than half the ancient oaks in the world are in Britain.
Many of our ancestors - the Angles, the Saxons, the Norse - came to the British Isles in longships made of oak. For centuries the oak touched every part of a Briton's life - from cradle to coffin It was oak that made the 'wooden walls' of Nelson's navy, and the navy that allowed Britain to rule the world. Even in the digital Apple age, the real oak has resonance - the word speaks of fortitude, antiquity, pastoralism.
The Glorious Life of the Oak explores our long relationship with this iconic tree; it considers the life-cycle of the oak, the flora and fauna that depend on the oak, the oak as medicine, food and drink, where Britain's mightiest oaks can be found, and it tells of oak stories from folklore, myth and legend.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 30, 2018
English Oak. That regal tree. It is our cherished national tree as well as being the most common. It is loved by many and is deeply rooted in our identity. Other countries seem to think that it is theirs though; in 2004 Congress named the Oak, America’s national tree, it was considered sacred by the Romans and the Druids and three of the Baltic States have it as their favourite too.
We are fortunate that in the UK we have more ancient oaks that all of Europe put together. For example, the Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire has a girth of more than 13 meters and is estimated to be more than 1,000 years old and there are loads more like this, all with their own stories to tell. Oak trees have been here a long time too, a single oak can support hundreds of different species and creatures. It has been used to build ships of war, and cathedrals of peace. In ages past it has been used to make tables to eat from, the bark used for leather and entombed those that have shuffled off from this mortal coil. It is said that an oak tree takes 300 years to grow, 300 years to mature and 300 years to die.
Oak trees make a fine home. The wood is straightforward to work when it is green and as it ages it shrinks and gets stronger pulling the frame in and strengthening it. An oak frame will outlast all the people in it and the stones that surround the house. It can feed us, you can make coffee from the acorns and as a fuel burns hot providing warmth.
Oak has always had a strong meaning for me as my surname is originally derived from the French, Le Chêne and my wife was originally a Le Quesne; Jersey French for the oak. I was really looking forward to reading this book from Lewis-Stempel about one of my favourite trees. As usual, he doesn’t disappoint either, it is full of anecdotes and snippets of information and written in his fine lyrical way and is a fine companion to his book on owls.
We are fortunate that in the UK we have more ancient oaks that all of Europe put together. For example, the Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire has a girth of more than 13 meters and is estimated to be more than 1,000 years old and there are loads more like this, all with their own stories to tell. Oak trees have been here a long time too, a single oak can support hundreds of different species and creatures. It has been used to build ships of war, and cathedrals of peace. In ages past it has been used to make tables to eat from, the bark used for leather and entombed those that have shuffled off from this mortal coil. It is said that an oak tree takes 300 years to grow, 300 years to mature and 300 years to die.
Oak trees make a fine home. The wood is straightforward to work when it is green and as it ages it shrinks and gets stronger pulling the frame in and strengthening it. An oak frame will outlast all the people in it and the stones that surround the house. It can feed us, you can make coffee from the acorns and as a fuel burns hot providing warmth.
Oak has always had a strong meaning for me as my surname is originally derived from the French, Le Chêne and my wife was originally a Le Quesne; Jersey French for the oak. I was really looking forward to reading this book from Lewis-Stempel about one of my favourite trees. As usual, he doesn’t disappoint either, it is full of anecdotes and snippets of information and written in his fine lyrical way and is a fine companion to his book on owls.
December 30, 2018
This is a wonderful primer for people who want to find out more about the remarkable Oak. If this short read doesn't inspire you to find out more nothing will.
June 21, 2022
This was ok but it felt like a bit of a "filler" book, perhaps written to get a quick one out there to the publisher.
Lewis-Stempel looks at different aspects of the mighty oak, life cycles, insects and animals associated with the tree, significance in ancient folklore. The main text is interspersed with random poems on the oak as well.
Overall, just ok. A very short read and not one that will blow your socks off!
Lewis-Stempel looks at different aspects of the mighty oak, life cycles, insects and animals associated with the tree, significance in ancient folklore. The main text is interspersed with random poems on the oak as well.
Overall, just ok. A very short read and not one that will blow your socks off!
November 22, 2018
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the other pithy Lewis-Stempel book I read this month, The Secret Life of the Owl. There’s a lot here about the role the oak has played in British history, such as in warships and cathedral roofs. Other topics are the oak’s appearance and function in different seasons, the use of acorns and oak leaves in cooking, and some of the myths and legends associated with the trees (the oak proverbs should have been placed in this chapter). I felt there was too much minimally relevant material added in to make up the page count, such as a list of some of Britain’s famous named oaks and long poems from the likes of John Clare and William Cowper. While Lewis-Stempel always has a piercing eye, I have to wonder if he shouldn’t be saving up his energies to write more substantial books.
Fun fact: “Britain has more ancient oaks than all other European countries combined.”
Favorite lines:
“A double proof of spring is when the male mistle thrush flies to the top of the oak and sings. A mistle thrush, in the bare choir stalls of an oak, always impresses with his physical bulk. He is Pavarotti in feathers.”
“The sodden leaves of oak break down with ease in autumn and form a rich leaf mould beneath the tree, which catches in the nose like churchy incense and supports such invertebrates as the stag beetle, and such fungi as the oakbug milkcap.”
Fun fact: “Britain has more ancient oaks than all other European countries combined.”
Favorite lines:
“A double proof of spring is when the male mistle thrush flies to the top of the oak and sings. A mistle thrush, in the bare choir stalls of an oak, always impresses with his physical bulk. He is Pavarotti in feathers.”
“The sodden leaves of oak break down with ease in autumn and form a rich leaf mould beneath the tree, which catches in the nose like churchy incense and supports such invertebrates as the stag beetle, and such fungi as the oakbug milkcap.”
July 16, 2019
Enjoyable little book about oak trees. Makes me want to start growing trees again :)
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September 5, 2022Lovely evening read. I liked the poetry and at the end he listed some iconic oaks around the UK, which I would some day like to see. Fun fact: Britain's oldest oak that's still alive is from 970 AD!
March 15, 2021
2.5. 5/5 for Oak facts. A reasonable book and I’ve definitely learned some things. The subject matter just isn’t really for me, and that’s not the author’s fault.
March 28, 2021
Had to read this for book club so is perhaps unfair to criticise a book I wouldn't choose. However, I can't help myself.
If you like miscellany about oaks this is for you. The shockingly awful poems dotted throughout were painful and I must say the George Bernard Shaw one was a revelation.
'I took an acorn and put it in a pot.
I then covered it with earth,not a lot'
So I did learn something useful- stay away from Shaw's poetry.
If you like miscellany about oaks this is for you. The shockingly awful poems dotted throughout were painful and I must say the George Bernard Shaw one was a revelation.
'I took an acorn and put it in a pot.
I then covered it with earth,not a lot'
So I did learn something useful- stay away from Shaw's poetry.
May 28, 2025
2.5*
Didn't enjoy this anywhere near as much as another one of John Lewis-Stempels books that I read this month (the curious life of the cuckoo).
The benefit of these books is that they are so succinct, so they are a great intro to nature writing.There are some interesting facts if you haven't read much about oaks before, I'm pretty obsessed with them so a lot of the ecological and folklore content was familiar to me.
I'd say this book dropped a star for me because of the lack of context provided around the use of oak in the British empire, despite the fact that the author explicitly mentions oak's role in ship building that "helped Britain rule the world". It seems strange to me for a nature writer not to mention the ecological destruction caused by this, British forests wiped out to enable and expand colonialism, the harm done to people and nature through that colonisation? Important points that could have been included to join the dots.
Didn't enjoy this anywhere near as much as another one of John Lewis-Stempels books that I read this month (the curious life of the cuckoo).
The benefit of these books is that they are so succinct, so they are a great intro to nature writing.There are some interesting facts if you haven't read much about oaks before, I'm pretty obsessed with them so a lot of the ecological and folklore content was familiar to me.
I'd say this book dropped a star for me because of the lack of context provided around the use of oak in the British empire, despite the fact that the author explicitly mentions oak's role in ship building that "helped Britain rule the world". It seems strange to me for a nature writer not to mention the ecological destruction caused by this, British forests wiped out to enable and expand colonialism, the harm done to people and nature through that colonisation? Important points that could have been included to join the dots.
January 16, 2025
A short read but beautiful. The books tells you some facts and life of Oak Trees (mainly in Britain, but you’d still enjoy it though you live outside Britain).
If you have an adoration to this mighty tree, I recommend to pick this one as your next read :)
If you have an adoration to this mighty tree, I recommend to pick this one as your next read :)
February 24, 2024
Very enjoyable
December 25, 2023
When I think “I want to read a book about oak trees” this is exactly the sort of thing I have in mind.
10/10 acorns
10/10 acorns
June 18, 2019
A glorious little book - only 87 pages long! - about the glorious Oak and it captures the essence of what makes this tree so special, especially to the people of Britain, a country that has more Ancient Oaks than all of Europe put together!
The author has done a wonderful job in cramming so much information into such a quick read, and says it was only seeing an Oak nearby at night that made him realise what a special tree it actually was.
In this 'ode to oaks' he manages to sum up the wide impact that this tree has had on so much of our lives - uses in history in buildings and boats, the links to royalty and politics, and even down to the humble world of pub names! - I learnt so much from each page and it was nicely set out alongside some poetry as well with links to the oak.
It also touches on the lifecycle of the tree and the threats it faces due to disease, how it plays such a vital role in wildlife, the changes of each season and even mentions of folklore and medicine. There's even recipes for Acorn Coffee and Oak Leaf Wine if you fancy giving those a go! I also enjoyed the list of places toward the back where you can go and see some might Oaks and I just found this potted history of the Oak to be a lovely and informative read.
The author has done a wonderful job in cramming so much information into such a quick read, and says it was only seeing an Oak nearby at night that made him realise what a special tree it actually was.
In this 'ode to oaks' he manages to sum up the wide impact that this tree has had on so much of our lives - uses in history in buildings and boats, the links to royalty and politics, and even down to the humble world of pub names! - I learnt so much from each page and it was nicely set out alongside some poetry as well with links to the oak.
It also touches on the lifecycle of the tree and the threats it faces due to disease, how it plays such a vital role in wildlife, the changes of each season and even mentions of folklore and medicine. There's even recipes for Acorn Coffee and Oak Leaf Wine if you fancy giving those a go! I also enjoyed the list of places toward the back where you can go and see some might Oaks and I just found this potted history of the Oak to be a lovely and informative read.
November 16, 2019
This is a sweet book, great for an insomniac like me to read before bed. There are some nice facts and stories, but I do agree with other reviewers that there is A LOT of filler for such a small book, in the form of poems and songs about oaks. I was also hoping for more information on the life cycle of the oak, a bit like in the Hidden Life of Trees, but it doesn't deliver much on that front. This was my first introduction to this author, so I will take other reviewers advice and read some of his others - probably the owl one next! Since this was my first Lewis-Stempel book, I think this meant I was less disappointed in the content, but I do think it's a nice little book that you can use for bedtime reading, then lend to others when you're done or keep it around for the occasional perusing to to cheer you up a bit.
July 9, 2025
The Glorious Life of the Oak is just that - glorious. An eclectic mix of history, natural history, poetry and folklore, it's a fitting tribute to Britain's most beloved tree, the oak.
From the ancient right of pannage, to shipbuilding, a list of Britain's Mightiest Oaks, and even a recipe for oak leaf wine, John Lewis-Stempel eloquently covers his subject from every conceivable angle. One of my favourite sections was Oakwatch: The Lifecycle of the Oak - the following is from The Oak in Autumn:
"In a screaming Halloween wind, the leaves are sometimes gone in a night, like revellers from a city centre at 3am. Left behind, high up in the trees, are the blots of the wood pigeon’s nest and the carrion crow. That night the leafless oak will hold the stars in its branches."
There's a lot packed into this slim volume - The Glorious Life of the Oak is a gorgeous read for any nature lover.
December 21, 2020
The third book I've read in this series (after owls and foxes); I enjoy them all, and plan to read whichever they release, but the first book, on owls, is to my mind by far the best. It simply had the most interesting information and the most acute sense of observation. I am an avid tree enthusiast, and despite this book's brevity, I still didn't find it too interesting. There are a few interesting pieces of cultural history (I especially found it fascinating to think about the oak tree in England the same way American Indians think about the bison, as a key to a flourishing life), but the details on the contribution of the oak to its natural habitat were sparse and limited.
October 22, 2018
I have enjoyed all of this author’s books, including this one, but I do have to query the reasoning behind this title’s publication. It is very short, and then at least a third of it consists of other people’s writings, leading me to the conclusion that the publishers/author are simply cashing in on the success oh his other recent titles. There are far superior books on the Oak tree available, indeed I would guess that much of the content of the present book has been gleaned from others. What is the point of it?
March 15, 2020
I love the writings of Lewis-Stempel but this was my least favorite book of his - of those 5 or so that I have read. I want to learn more about nature and I have been looking at books that might have the title "The Secret Life of...…" (put in the name of an creature or a plant) - so I was hoping this was one of those types of books. It could have had a lot of other names - like "The Oak in Literature" or "The Oak in History" - like, how humans have interacted with the Oak - not the Oak on its own terms.
December 31, 2018
This book could also be called "A Day (Season) In The Life Of The Oak) or "Oak Light". It was an easy and quick read that provided me with some useful information. It would have been good to have some sort of reading list at the back though, for those of us who wanted to go from "Oak Light" to "Oak In-depth."
April 25, 2020
I liked this book and I think it would make a lovely present. However, for me there just wasn't quite enough in it to engage me. For someone who knows little about trees, this might not be an issue, but as I read many books on the natural world, including trees, I found this frustrating. However, it is beautifully written and presented which is why I give it four stars not three.
September 17, 2023
Only really enjoyed chapter two which focused on the lifecycle of the Oak in relation to other aspects of nature. The defence mechanisms of the oak including the production of tannin to ward off insects were particularly fascinating to learn about. However, some chapters felt like filler text especially the last one.
April 16, 2019
My second read by Lewis-Stempel. Short and sweet but encompasses so much within it. So many facts about the oak, be they scientific or cultural, and a good launchpad for both general knowledge on the oak or to enthuse you about further study on this wonderful tree.
March 20, 2020
What a great little book to specifically celebrate one tree that has shaped our landscape, history and art. The only thing is the sadness I feel at how the environment is going and the fight to maintain countryside currently.
Beautifully written - a real love letter!
Beautifully written - a real love letter!
August 31, 2021
Some interesting information about the oak in folklore and the role of the oak in nature but a lot of bulking out in between. Too much olden day verse for my liking - it would have been better to have kept it to half the number of pages filled with interesting and useful information.
January 20, 2024
beautiful prose with excerpts from classic poems, writings by culpeper and pliny the elder, interspersed with folklore, superstitions and even a few recipes! this little book shows the many reasons why britain collectively declares our beloved oak as wise, strong and regal 💚
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December 26, 2025I was disappointed by this book. I thought it was going to be an ecology book, but it was more history and poetry. It also read like a coffee table book, without any flow or continuity. I did get an acorn coffee and oak leaf wine recipe from it though!
October 19, 2018
Lovely little book about the wonderful Oak tree! Legends, Poems, stories, history and even recipes in this glorious little book!
December 18, 2018
A great starting point to then go on and find out more as it covers everything briefly. A lovely book though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews