LIVING ON THE EARTH - 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - ALICIA BAY LAUREL - 1970
Alicia Bay Laurel’s cult book finally reissued in a magnificent translation by Editions Ulmer. A jewel entirely written and illustrated by hand, with the translation assisted by Alicia herself, at 73 years young! It is said to have influenced Jacques Massacrier in writing Savoir Revivre.
"This book is for all those who would rather chop wood than work in an office to pay for gas and electricity."
In this book: camping / simple shelters / outdoor cooking / hand washing clothes / making soap / using a wood stove / musical instruments / sewing without a machine / candle making / basketry / dyes / looms and weaving / leather work / ceramics / gardening / canning and dried fruits / recipes / herbal medicine / natural childbirth / first aid / & much more...
- Format: 21 x 29 cm
- 248 pages
Alicia was only 20 years old when Living on the Earth was published: what was originally just a brochure recording the knowledge necessary for a return to the land became a bestseller and the symbol of an entire generation. Finally translated into French for its 50th anniversary, Vivre sur la Terre is an invitation to happiness and freedom!
At 19, after studying art and fashion, Alicia joined a hippie community in California where she very quickly began to record and illustrate the knowledge of the people around her. A year later, what was meant to be a simple brochure for community members became a book and met with immense success: in just two weeks, the 10,000 copies published by The Bookworks were sold out. The second edition published by Random House would sell 350,000 copies over 10 years.
Like its author and the years that saw its birth, Vivre sur la Terre follows no rules. It is built through lived experiences, recounted and illustrated by Alicia. You can find everything in it: how to make beauty and cleaning products, but also tools or musical instruments, garden, preserve and cook your harvests, camp, sew without a machine, and even give birth naturally, etc. Everything is beautifully illustrated with line drawings that mingle with Alicia’s handwriting, making this book a true work of art!
At a time when eco-friendly lifestyles are increasingly popular and considered "modern," this book reminds us that 50 years ago, an entire generation of pioneers of degrowth was emerging.
PEACE & LOVE 🌼