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Small Wonder

Small Wonder

Essays
EssaysNature
Pages
288
Published
2003
Language
English

Synopsis

In this collection of essays, Barbara Kingsolver offers a hopeful look at humanity and our potential. She explores diverse subjects, from the Grand Canyon and her garden to motherhood and genetic engineering, always connecting them to larger global and personal challenges. Kingsolver believes that solutions to our biggest problems can be found in both the vastness of the world and the intimacy of our own lives.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

HopefulReflectiveInformativePhilosophical

Genres

Essays Nature Society Short Stories

About the author

B
Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver is an American novelist, essayist and poet, born in 1955 and raised in rural Kentucky. She trained as a scientist, holding degrees in biology, ecology and evolutionary biology, and worked as a freelance writer before turning to fiction. Her novels include The Poisonwood Bible, about a missionary family in the Congo, The Lacuna, and Demon Copperhead, a retelling of Dickens's David Copperfield set in the Appalachian Virginia of the opioid crisis, which won the 2023 Pulitzer Priz...

Frequently asked questions

  • How does Small Wonder relate to Barbara Kingsolver's other works?

    This collection of essays offers a more direct and personal voice than her novels, providing insight into the real-world observations and philosophical underpinnings that often inform her fiction. Readers familiar with her novels will recognize recurring themes of environmentalism, social justice, and the interconnectedness of life, but presented through a non-fiction lens.

  • What kind of essays are included in Small Wonder?

    The essays cover a wide range of topics, from reflections on nature and gardening to discussions on political events and social issues, often blending personal anecdotes with broader cultural commentary. Kingsolver frequently uses her experiences in rural Appalachia and her travels to frame her observations on global challenges.