Walking Among the Jacarandas With John Fowles
Thoughts on the well-regarded British author
For the privilege of sharing a common favorite book and an interest in natural history with the noted British author John Fowles, I earned a book hurled at my head.
Not by Fowles!
It began with Wiwaxia and ended with the jacarandas and a cup of tea.
My aunt, I told Fowles as we walked among the beautiful jacarandas in bloom on the Chapman University campus, always had loved these trees. Although their purple flowers always draw comment and interest, their pods were what she had loved so.
The pods are like purses, or perhaps herbaceous oysters. They’re strong and durable.
Fowles’ voice was soft and he spoke carefully, with a bit of sibilant whistle with some of his “esses.” I’m sure this is a British mark of something … but he wasn’t the least bit “crusty” (as in upper-crust). He was down-to-earth and courteous.
He was curious, almost relentlessly so.
He asked about the many rabbits on campus — escaped from labs ages before.
