The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children (Paperback)) - Softcover

Auel-jean-m

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1444709852 ISBN 13: 9781444709858

Publisher: Bantam, 2010

Synopsis

Set 25,000 years in the past, The Clan of the Cave Bear is an epic tale of love, identity and the struggle to survive.

''BEAUTIFUL, EXCITING, IMAGINATIVE'' NEW YORK TIMES
''MAGIC'' TELEGRAPH

When an earthquake destroys her family''s camp, Ayla is left orphaned and alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land, with death all but guaranteed.

But then she is found by a woman of the Clan, a people very different from her own. To them, Ayla looks peculiar and ugly - her blonde hair and blue eyes marking her out as one of the Others, who have recently invaded their homeland. Yet Iza, the Clan''s medicine woman, cannot leave the child to die.

As Ayla learns the ways of the Clan, Iza grows to love her, and the rest of the Clan begins to accept her. Everyone, that is, except Brun, the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader. Where others see similarity, he can only see difference. And as his hatred for the strange girl of the Others deepens, Brun grows more determined to get his revenge . . .

MILLIONS OF READERS HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE EARTH''S CHILDREN SERIES:

''Riveting from start to finish'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

''Absolutely brilliant. Wonderful world-building, fantastic storytelling and utterly compelling . . . can''t recommend this book enough'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

''This book is one of a kind'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

''Definitely a book to read and read again'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

''Hooked first time round and rereading the whole series again for the fourth or fifth time'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About this title

Review

When her parents are killed by an earthquake, 5-year-old Ayla wanders through the forest completely alone. Cold, hungry, and badly injured by a cave lion, the little girl is as good as gone until she is discovered by a group who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. This clan, left homeless by the same disaster, have little interest in the helpless girl who comes from the tribe they refer to as the "Others." Only their medicine woman sees in Ayla a fellow human, worthy of care. She painstakingly nurses her back to health--a decision that will forever alter the physical and emotional structure of the clan. Although this story takes place roughly 35,000 years ago, its cast of characters could easily slide into any modern tale. The members of the Neanderthal clan, ruled by traditions and taboos, find themselves challenged by this outsider, who represents the physically modern Cro-Magnons. And as Ayla begins to grow and mature, her natural tendencies emerge, putting her in the middle of a brutal and dangerous power struggle.

Although Jean Auel obviously takes certain liberties with the actions and motivations of all our ancestors, her extensive research into the Ice Age does shine through--especially in the detailed knowledge of plants and natural remedies used by the medicine woman and passed down to Ayla. Mostly, though, this first in the series of four is a wonderful story of survival. Ayla's personal evolution is a compelling and relevant tale. --Sara Nickerson

From the Publisher

The stunning epic that stirred the imagination of millions. Here is a novel of awesome beauty and power. A moving saga about people, relationships and the boundaries of love. Through Jean Auel's magnificent storytelling, we are taken back to the dawn of mankind and swept up in the wonderful world of a very special heroine, Ayla. Her enthralling story is one we all can share. A natural disaster has left young Ayla alone, wandering, fending for herself in an unfamiliar land. One day, she is discovered by the Clan of the Cave bear, men and women far different from her own people. Tall, blond, blue-eyed Ayla is a mysterious stranger to the Clan and at first they mistrust her and cast her out. But as she grows to know them and to learn the ways of the Clan, she is welcomed. And as she leads them in their struggle for survival, the Clan come to worship Ayla. For in her blood flows the future of humanity.

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1444709852
• ISBN 13: 9781444709858
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 502