page_title: Tarka the Otter
section_title: History and reception
hierarchical_section_title: Tarka the Otter / History and reception
caption_attribution_description: English: Skirr Cottage in Georgeham, where Henry Williamson first lived in the village. He is buried in the churchyard just visible in the photograph This is a photo of listed building number 1366236.
context_page_description: Tarka the Otter: His Joyful Water-Life and Death in the Country of the Two Rivers is a novel by Henry Williamson, first published in 1927 by G.P. Putnam's Sons with an introduction by the Hon. Sir John Fortescue. It won the Hawthornden Prize in 1928, and has never been out of print since its first publication.
  The novel describes the life of an otter, along with a detailed observation of its habitat in the country of the River Taw and River Torridge in North Devon; the name "Tarka" is said by Williamson to mean "Wandering as Water". Though often now characterised as a children's book, Tarka has influenced literary figures as diverse as Ted Hughes and Rachel Carson.
context_section_description: Williamson, who was born in London and had moved to Georgeham, Devon, in 1921, began making notes for Tarka about two years later: although he was usually a rather rapid writer, the book took him around four years to write thanks to the large amount of detailed research needed. Williamson often claimed that he was inspired to write Tarka after rescuing and raising an otter cub, but the truth of this story is uncertain and it seems likely that the 1909 book The Life Story of an Otter, by Cornish naturalist John Coulson Tregarthen, was a more substantial influence. Nevertheless, Williamson spent a great deal of time gathering information on otters' habits and behaviour.
  The original edition featured illustrations by Charles Tunnicliffe. The book was extremely well-received on publication, attracting praise from Thomas Hardy and T. E. Lawrence, amongst others. Although not written for children, the book soon became popular with young readers.
  At the time the book was published, otters were generally regarded as vermin, but Tarka (and more specifically its later film adaptation) is credited with inspiring a transformation in public attitudes to otters. The book remains well-known, and is often used to promote the area of North Devon where it is set. The Tarka Line railway line to Barnstaple, and Tarka Trail long distance footpath and cycle path, are named after the book.
caption: Williamson began writing Tarka the Otter in Skirr Cottage Georgeham Devon where he lived from 1921 to 1925
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