“In this charming eco-fiction, somewhere between Italo Calvino and Jean Giono, (…) Mina di Sospiro has taken a brilliant seed of an idea and turned it into a timeless book that will be loved by generations of readers.”
—David Rothenberg, The Ecologist / Encyclopaedia Britannica
“‘The Story of Yew’, all puns intended, makes botany into a fabulous enterprise — a fable of the plant world told with courtliness and elegance.”
—Georgia Tasker, The Miami Herald
“An eloquent, philosophical and wonderful tale.”
—Eileen Battersby, The Irish Times
“‘The Story of Yew’ follows in a fine tradition, that of philosophy made user-friendly, as in ‘Le Petit Prince’ by Antoine de Saint Exupery and ‘Sophie’s World’ by Jostein Gaardner, both of which have become cult classics. (…) Both thought-provoking and highly entertaining.”
—Ros Drinkwater, The Sunday Business Post
“In reading this marvellous and inspiring novel, I’m reminded of John Steinbeck’s declaration in ‘East of Eden’ — ‘If the story is not about the hearer, he will not listen. And here I make a rule — a great and interesting story is about everyone or it will not last.’ ‘The Story of Yew’ — because it is so intimately entwined with humankind, is about You. Every chapter is a parable whose meaning touches us all – trees, animals, bacteria, cells, atoms. It will most certainly endure.”
—Eileen Campbell, Resurgence Magazine
“Just like the classic ‘Watership Down’ it provokes the imagination as well as the emotions and Mina di Sospiro’s eccentric spirit infuses the story with an enthusiasm that even the most hardened cynics will find hard to resist.”
—Edel Coffey, The Sunday Tribune
“An inspiration.”
—Sue Leonard, The Irish Examiner
“Reading ‘The Story of Yew’ is like taking a walk through the forest. It is deceptively simple.(…) a most engaging tangle of history, botany and philosophy is waiting to ensnare the curious.”
—Greg Seaman, Eartheasy
“It is brilliant! Buy a copy (…) for each member of your family and make sure you read it yourself!”
—Phil Abbott, The Naturalist
“If you love myths you will love this book, if you love botany you will love this book, but possibly, you will love this book because you love life, as I feel this author does.”
—Marilyn Cameron, Folklore & Legends
“An extraordinary book … fascinating.”
—Pat Kenny, RTE Radio 1 Today with Pat Kenny
“This scholarly work is likely to become a classic of the conservation literature. A book which is hard to put down until the final page.”
—Sir Ghillean Prance, Plant Talk
“A very readable plea for a heart-based relationship with the natural world.”
—Anand Chetan, Kindred Spirit
“Enchanting!”
—Pauline Ferrie, Bookview Ireland
