Nature, Essays, United States History - General & Miscellaneous, Natural History
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Overview
Edward Hoagland is not only one of the best writers of our time; he is also one of the keenest observers of nature and one of the most celebrated essayists. His subjects range from the natural history of owls to the delicious mystery of wolves ("Howling Back at the Wolves"); the demise of the red wolf ("Lament the Red Wolves"); the nature of a bear-stalker ("Bears, Bears, Bears"); admirable qualities of other creatures (in his famous essay "The Courage of Turtles"); and the intricate workings of an old farm's ecosystem. Hoagland's exploration, from the Okefenokee swamp to the brawny Belize River, illuminates both the exotic and the wilds of our own backyards. Hoagland reports from the frontlines of life. He recounts fascinating detail with exacting prose. He's irascible, brilliant, probing, sharp-witted, and brutally honest about himself and the state of the natural world.No one who admires John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, John Burroughs, and Edward Abbey should miss this definitive collection. It will forever change the way you view the natural world.
Editorials
Library Journal
Acclaimed nature writer Hoagland offers a rich collection of 25 essays that records his travels to places that include the Arctic, Antarctica, and his rural retreat in the mountains of Vermont. Hoagland distinguishes himself from many other nature writers by being equally interested in people and their natural surroundings, and he often writes about the deadly interactions between the two. We learn of the Kadar of southern India, who live with the threat of elephant or tiger attacks; the Gwich'in Indians of Alaska, who struggle to maintain their traditional subsistence living in the 21st century; and Hoagland's strange mix of neighbors in rural Vermont, whose lives can be difficult and tawdry but who are always fiercely independent. In a very personal essay, "Behold Now Behemoth," Hoagland reveals his religious beliefs and unfettered joy at having his sight restored after three years of blindness. He ends the work with biographical commentary on nature writers Thoreau, John Muir, Edward Abbey, and Gilbert White. Hoagland's writing is provocative, direct, raw, sometimes painful, and always full of his passion for life and living things. Highly recommended for nature and travel collections.-Maureen J. Delaney-Lehman, Lake Superior State Univ. Lib., Sault Ste. Marie, MI Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.Book Details
Published
August 1, 2003
Publisher
Lyons Press
Pages
512
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781585746521