Inspiration

During my youth in Holland I read a children’s book that made a deep impression on me. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, written by the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish author Selma Lagerlöö f in 1907 (last published in 1992 by Buccaneer Books), tells the story of a boy who shrinks to the size of an elf, climbs on the back of a barnyard goose, and joins a flock of wild geese migrating north.

For a year Nils travels with the geese, who introduce him to Eagle, Raven, Bear, and other animals. He learns to see the world through their eyes. But when Nils finally returns to his family’s farm and regains his former size, he loses his standing among the animals. The geese, suddenly afraid of their companion, take off--but not until after they plead with him to become an advocate for their needs.

As sentimental as it may be, this children’s story has resonated with me, and even today it reflects some of my basic beliefs and aspirations as a naturalist....Like the boy in the Swedish story, I hope my experiences can be a bridge between the animal world and the millions of people who will never crouch before an elephant or hunt with lions in the African night.