【推荐1】Besides getting out into nature yourself, the next best thing—especially in the cold, dark winter—is to take it all in through the pages of a book. But where to start? Check out our natural history book recommendations from China and beyond below!

My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir, US/UK

In the summer of 1869, John Muir, joined a group of shepherds in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain. During the months, he kept a diary while following a flock of sheep, painting a glorious picture of idyllic forests and majestic mountain peaks. His rich perspective and enthusiasm inspired thousands of Americans to visit the area, which later became the famous Yosemite National Park.

Living as a Naturalist by Liu Huajie, China

Natural history might seem to tackle from a theoretical perspective, but Living as a Naturalist makes it accessible and attractive. Liu uses flowers and plants as an entry point and gives readers practical examples of how we can engage with natural history in our daily lives. With a humorous and engaging writing style, not only does the book interpret ancient Chinese educational and philosophical ideas, but it also introduces key figures in the West’s approach to the subject.   

The Peregrine by J.A. Baker, UK

In 1965, John A. Baker gave up his work and lived on his earnings, devoting all his time to his “obsession”—the peregrine falcon. Like the bird itself, Baker has a keen eye for detail, and his book is “full of the drama of the everyday”, especially their most exciting moments, like fast flying and hunting prey. He pours his heart and soul into his descriptions, transforming his narrative into poetry. In doing so, he entices (吸引) the reader to become fascinated by the smallest of details in things like bird flight and cloud formation.

【推荐2】Cheney School is a popular, high performing school located in the heart of Oxford serving a diverse community of students who are eager to learn. The school is looking to add to its bank of exam invigilators (监考人), who will be employed on a casual basis to watch over students taking both mock(模拟) and actual GCSE / GCE exams, as necessary throughout the school year.

Full training will be provided and staff will be contacted before the exam period to discuss the invigilation schedule in relation to their own availability.

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*have a command of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

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How to apply: Please download an application form from the school’s vacancy website: http://www.cheney.oxon.sch.uk/lnvigilators.

【推荐1】Robert van Gulik was born on August 9, 1910 in the Netherlands. His mother came from a family of musicians and piano makers, a fact that greatly influenced Robert’s life. His father was a physician in army, a position which required frequent foreign postings (派驻). The family lived in various areas of the East Indies for most of Robert’s youth. This experience contributed to his appreciation for cultures and mastery of several languages.

He was an eager academic, collector of art and manuscripts (手稿), and translator of ancient writings. He studied and trained to become a master musician on the Chinese guqin and eventually wrote two books on the instrument. Similarly, his skills as an artist in the traditional Chinese style and knowledge of calligraphy were extraordinary. He wrote and published a number of non-fiction, scholarly articles and books on Chinese music, art, and literature, as well as Chinese culture and traditions.

Although he also wrote essays and short stories, Robert remained best known for his Chinese mysteries. In 1940, Robert came across an 18th-century Chinese novel that would take his career down an unplanned pathway and result in the public fame he never expected. The novel, titled Four GreatStrange Cases of Empress Wu’s Reign, was a fictional account of the deeds of Judge Dee, one of the heroes of traditional Chinese detective fiction, and was set during the 7th-century Tang Dynasty. Interested, Robert not only translated the novel into English, but he explored the history of Chinese Penal Code (刑法) and other legal literature of the period. It was not until 1949 that Robert was able to publish his translation Dee Goong An (狄公案): Three Murder Cases Solved by Judge Dee. Robert’s Chinese mysteries include over 10 novels and short-story volumes, recording the career of Chinese detective called Di Renjie. Interestingly, the tales first found fame in oriental (东方的) editions, before being translated into English in 1957.