In the center of a small village in India, an enormous banyan tree grows, extending over several acres. Considered sacred to the villagers, the banyan is home to many spirits. In the Heart of the Village examines the life that thrives in and around this amazing tree through the course of a single day - from the villagers who barter, play and rest in its shade, to the egrets, spotted owls, langur monkeys and flying foxes that live throughout its branches.

" A fascinating look at the social, spiritual, and ecological significance of the banyan tree in the life of an Indian village."
Kirkus, pointer review

" At once a work of inspired botanical lore and a portrait of the ageless rhythms of the subcontinent."
Smithsonian