The Wood of Green is a volume of 109 first-published poems, 11 first-published stories and tales, and 338 pages of mostly first-published non-fiction by the poet and writer Alan Lindgren. 91 of the poems are English, with 11 German and 7 Spanish poems. Of the stories, 7 are English with four German stories and tales with English translations by the author. A number of pages in the non-fiction section contain insights, examples, and other material into the four temperaments (see Author’s Biography, below). There are two concise studies in section three of the non-fiction on humanity, which are crucial for understanding and living in western society today. Diverse in theme and genre, it will bring reading pleasure while informing and educating those who are interested in adult self-education. Three of the eleven stories are suitable for all ages. The German stories enhance the reading experience in entirely different directions. The Novelists is farcical with a moral lesson, while Flemsbach is reminiscent of an old fairy tale. Flemsbach is for all ages. The Silver Goblet takes place in scenes. These scenes move along among several (sets of) characters and carry the reader on an inner and varied journey with several contrasts, including old and young, poor and rich, body and soul, life and death and divine life. There is also a little German fairy tale that is a small classic. The seven English-language tales are Hemdlig, the Three Brothers, and the Three Sisters , Mike and Morris , Lemon Pie , Emma the Miser , Jakob’s Fortune , Memories , and Frank Mitchell and the Yellow Roses . Hemdlig is like a fairy story, but draws on European Medieval sources in content. Hemdlig is ideal for ages 7 to 13. Mike and Morris is a humorous tale of twins. As the narrative tells the story, the fun multiplies identically until a final celebration finishes this particularly creative tale to be enjoyed by young and old alike. Within the fiction Lemon Pie relates some non-fiction in a paragraph on natural disasters and communicates deeper realities regarding death in a conversation between a father and his three children. Lemon Pie particularly addresses the mature reader but children in their middle years may learn from it. Emma the Miser is a masterfully-written piece and holds the reader’s attention with some suspense, Jakob’s Fortune shows us a side of human nature, and Memories is sensation-rich. Frank Mitchell and the Yellow Roses is a classic American story and a character study, mainly about the title character. Mr. Lindgren is a poet by vocation, and the English, German, and Spanish poems in The Wood of Green are beautiful, often profound, and always of interest. The non-fiction consists of a selection of his first-published studies written beginning December 2009, together with several that were previously written and published. They contain knowledge in the form of thinking insights. The Wood of Green: Poems, Stories, and Studies is 6 X 9 ; 558 pages creme paper, black-and-white text; glossy 4-color cover; list price $18.95 (with sizeable discounts for distributors and preferred customers). It is published by Sun Sings Publications (2014).
