Greenwood

The novel follows the Greenwood family across four generations, structured like the rings of a tree from 2038 back to 1908. In a future withered by "The Great Wither," a fungal blight that has decimated global forests, Jacinda Greenwood works as a guide in one of the world's last remaining old-growth stands. The narrative retreats through time to reveal how her ancestors—including a depression-era carpenter and a timber tycoon—built and lost a fortune. It documents the transition from regarding trees as sacred living systems to treating them as industrial commodities, centering on a hidden biological inheritance and a disputed land deed.

This book serves readers interested in the intersection of dendrology, climate science, and historical fiction. It appeals to those seeking a granular look at how environmental degradation stems from generational cycles of resource extraction. Readers gain a technical perspective on forest ecology and woodcraft while observing the long-term consequences of human intervention in natural landscapes. The story provides a framework for understanding how familial legacies and ecological health are inextricably linked, leaving the audience with an appreciation for the slow, silent resilience of the natural world against industrial collapse.

Balanced in tone; a moderate read.

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