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Like flies in amber, like corpses frozen in in ice, that…

“Like flies in amber, like corpses frozen in in ice, that which according to the laws of nature should pass away is by the miracle of ink on paper, preserved. It is a kind of magic. As one tends the graves of the dead, so I tend the books. And every day I open a volume or two, read a few lines or…” quote by Diane Setterfield
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“Like flies in amber, like corpses frozen in in ice, that which according to the laws of nature should pass away is by the miracle of ink on paper, preserved. It is a kind of magic. As one tends the graves of the dead, so I tend the books. And every day I open a volume or two, read a few lines or pages, allow the voices of the forgotten dead to resonate inside my head.”

Diane Setterfield

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writing preserves the dead, turning forgotten voices into living magic through ink.

In simple terms: Books keep the dead alive.

Key Takeaway

Read to hear past lives.

Themes

literature memory mortality

Mood

nostalgic contemplative

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

  • library work
  • historical research
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

narrative preservation creative magic

Questions to Reflect On

  • What stories do you hear from old books?
  • How does preserving memory affect you?
A Different Perspective

May romanticize death.

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