Reclaiming Nature: John Hargraveâs Kibbo Kift and the Vision of Post-World War I Renewal

Izabela CuryÅÅo-Klag

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Chapter 4 Reclaiming Nature: John Hargraveâs Kibbo Kift and the Vision of Post-World War I Renewal

äºConsolations of Nature

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Izabela CuryÅÅo-Klag

Izabela CuryÅÅo-Klag
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Page Range:: 72â84

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004744110_006

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Abstract

This chapter explores the connection between woodcraft and modernism in 1920s Britain to unveil a post-World War I utopian shift that grounded its aesthetic intervention in nature. The primary focus of my analysis is the initial, apolitical phase of John Hargraveâs Kibbo Kift Kindred, characterized by a unique creative culture, rooted in an appreciation of the natural world. Seeking inspiration in a vast pool of ârejected knowledgeâ of alternative sciences and beliefs of the previous epochs, Hargrave proposed a distinctive programme of moral and physical regeneration in order to break the cycle of industrial growth, and to counteract the âunnaturalâ forces that were propelling the world towards destruction. Advocating outdoor activities as a remedy for the adverse impacts of industrialism and war, the Kibbo Kift aimed to reach global youth, fostering a shared vision for the peaceful coexistence of nations. Simultaneously, the movement sought to engage contemporary artists and intellectuals in a grand scheme of social renewal. After the upheaval of 1914â1918, a return to the outdoors was deemed imperative, rooted in the belief that only in natureâs restorative and consolatory powers could humanity heal, regain its vitality, and truly flourish. This initiative resonated with some strands of modernism which sought alternative paths toward harmony and unity in the aftermath of a war-torn world. The chapter challenges the recent revisionary trend in modernist studies, which often portrays the modernist movement as endorsing the destructive facets of modern civilization. Instead, it illuminates an emerging green countercultural discourse within modernism, generating pockets of resistance against prevailing forms of power. At the same time, attention is drawn to the more disquieting aspect of the modernist ambition to breed a new elite of world leaders ready to intervene in the case of a global emergency.

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Consolations of Nature

Human-Nature Connections in Modern and Contemporary Anglophone Literature

ä¸ç¼ï¼ Nature, Culture and Literature, å·ï¼ 20

ISBN:: 9789004744110

åºçç¤¾:: Brill

å°å·åºçæ¥æ:: 01 Dec 2025

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- Literature and Cultural Studies
- Social Sciences
  - Cultural Studies

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Chapter 4 Reclaiming Nature: John Hargraveâs Kibbo Kift and the Vision of Post-World War I Renewal

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Consolations of Nature

Human-Nature Connections in Modern and Contemporary Anglophone Literature

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Chapter 4 Reclaiming Nature: John Hargraveâs Kibbo Kift and the Vision of Post-World War I Renewal

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