Audiobook · read by volunteers
Moths of the Limberlost
Gene Stratton-Porter (1863–1924)
Read by J. M. Smallheer · 15 chapters · 4 h 32
About the book
In the wetlands of northeastern Indiana, near a great swamp called the Limberlost, a woman with a camera spent years watching, photographing and collecting the moths that lived there. Gene Stratton-Porter writes with delight about the giant silk moths, their eggs, their caterpillars and the way they spend the winter. She tells how she found them, how she raised them, and how much patience it took to catch a moment of their lives on film. The chapters take the moths one at a time, from the Robin Moth to the great Yellow Emperor. Her book is part field guide, part memoir and part celebration of the natural world. It is full of colour and affection, and it will appeal to anyone with a curiosity about insects, nature and the quiet pleasures of careful observation. A calm and curious book for anyone who loves quiet observation.
Introduction
Gene Stratton-Porter, born in 1863 and died in 1924, was an American author, naturalist and photographer. She grew up on a farm in Indiana and became fascinated by the wilderness of the Limberlost, a large area of swamp and forest in the northeastern part of the state. There she took photographs of birds and moths, and she wrote both non-fiction about nature and popular novels, including Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost, which made her one of the best-selling authors of her day.
Moths of the Limberlost appeared in 1912. It was a natural companion to her books on birds, and she illustrated it with her own photographs. Stratton-Porter took pains to study each moth in its natural setting, raising caterpillars and watching them emerge as adults. The book is both a record of her work and an invitation to appreciate these creatures, which are often overlooked in favour of butterflies.
The Limberlost itself has changed considerably since her time, since the swamp was drained for farmland, and the book now serves as a record of a vanished habitat. The recording has fifteen sections and lasts about four and a half hours. It is read by one LibriVox volunteer. Anyone who loves nature writing, early photography or the history of American conservation will find it a pleasant and surprisingly moving experience.
The author’s enthusiasm is infectious, and she is never afraid to admit her mistakes or her surprises. You will hear about the patience needed to collect specimens, about the thrill of seeing a moth emerge from its cocoon and about the care that she gave to every stage. The book is a gentle reminder to look closely at the world.
Public domain
Gene Stratton-Porter died in 1924: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text