Benjamin Hale Libri

The arresting and brilliantly original collection of short stories from the prize-winning and bestselling author of The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore. 'An absolute pleasure' (New York Times)

Bruno Littlemore is quite unlike any chimpanzee in the world. Precocious, self-conscious and preternaturally gifted, young Bruno, born and raised in a habitat at the local zoo, falls under the care of a university primatologist named Lydia Littlemore. Learning of Bruno's ability to speak, Lydia takes Bruno into her home to oversee his education and nurture his passion for painting. But for all of his gifts, the chimpanzee has a rough time caging his more primal urges. His untimely outbursts ultimately cost Lydia her job, and send the unlikely pair on the road in what proves to be one of the most unforgettable journeys -- and most affecting love stories -- in recent literature. Like its protagonist, this novel is big, loud, abrasive, witty, perverse, earnest and amazingly accomplished. The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore goes beyond satire by showing us not what it means, but what it feels like be human -- to love and lose, learn, aspire, grasp, and, in the end, to fail.

The book is a reprint of a classic work originally published in 1883, offering readers a chance to explore its historical significance and enduring themes. It captures the essence of the era, reflecting the cultural and societal norms of the time. The text remains relevant, providing insights into the human experience and the challenges faced during that period. This edition preserves the original language and style, allowing contemporary readers to appreciate the work as it was intended.

Culturally significant, this work has been carefully reproduced from the original artifact to preserve its historical integrity. It includes original copyright references and library stamps, reflecting its importance in the knowledge base of civilization. This edition aims to provide readers with an authentic experience, maintaining the essence of the original text while showcasing its scholarly value.

Challenging the notion that love for nature is a prerequisite for environmentalism, the book argues that nature's often cruel aspects, such as natural disasters and diseases, do not diminish the need for environmental responsibility. Benjamin Hale posits that our moral obligation to protect the environment stems from our humanity, not nature's inherent value. By embracing our capacity for ethical reasoning, he asserts that we can act to preserve nature, even when it appears indifferent or hostile, emphasizing the importance of human compassion over nature's brutality.

The book is a facsimile reprint that retains the original imperfections, including marks, notations, marginalia, and flawed pages. This unique aspect offers readers a glimpse into the historical context and the original owner's interactions with the text.

For years, environmentalists have insisted that nature is fundamentally good. In The Wild and the Wicked, Benjamin Hale adopts the opposite position-that much of the time nature can be bad-in order to show that even if nature is cruel, we still need to be environmentally conscientious. Hale argues that environmentalists needn't feel compelled to defend the value of nature, or even to adopt the attitudes of tree-hugging nature lovers. We can acknowledge nature's indifference and periodic hostility. Deftly weaving anecdote and philosophy, he shows that we don't need to love nature to be green. What really ought to be driving our environmentalism is our humanity, not nature's value. Hale argues that our unique burden as human beings is that we can act for reasons, good or bad. He claims that we should be environmentalists because environmentalism is right, because we humans have the capacity to be better than nature. As humans, we fail to live up to our moral potential if we act as brutally as nature. Hale argues that despite nature's indifference to the plight of humanity, humanity cannot be indifferent to the plight of nature.