Jean M. Auel
Jean M. Auel is an American writer best known for her Earth's Children books, a series of novels set in prehistoric Europe that explores human activities during this time. Her most famous work, 'The Clan of the Cave Bear', was published in 1980 and is the first in the series, which includes titles such as 'The Valley of Horses', 'The Mammoth Hunters', 'The Plains of Passage', 'The Shelters of Stone', and 'The Land of Painted Caves'. Auel's meticulous research on the Paleolithic period has been praised for its detail and imagination.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Clan of the Cave Bear
This novel tells the story of a young girl named Ayla who, after an earthquake kills her family, is adopted by a tribe of Neanderthals known as the Clan. Ayla struggles to fit in with the Clan due to her physical differences and advanced cognitive abilities. Despite these challenges, she learns their customs and ways of life, and even becomes the apprentice of the Clan's medicine woman. The story explores themes of survival, acceptance, and the clash between cultures and species.
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2. The Mammoth Hunters
This novel is the third installment in a prehistoric fiction series that follows the adventures of Ayla, a young woman who has been adopted by a clan of Neanderthals. In this chapter of her story, Ayla finds herself living among the Mamutoi, or the Mammoth Hunters, where she struggles with her feelings for two men, Ranec and Jondalar, while trying to fit into the new culture. The book delves into the dynamics of love, jealousy, and acceptance, set against the backdrop of Ice Age Europe, richly detailing the era's flora, fauna, and the mammoth hunters' way of life. Through her unique gifts and her connection with animals, Ayla earns respect within the Mamutoi community, but not without facing significant personal challenges and dilemmas.
