American Chestnut - The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree (Paperback)

"In prose as strong and quietly beautiful as the American chestnut itself, Susan Freinkel profiles the silent catastrophe of a near-extinction and the impassioned struggle to bring a species back from the brink. Freinkel is a rare hybrid: equally fluid and in command as a science writer and a chronicler of historical events, and graced with the poise and skill to seamlessly graft these talents together. A perfect book."--Mary Roach, author of "Stiff" and "Spook"
"A spellbinding, heart wrenching, and uplifting account of the American chestnut that asks the vastly important question: Have we learned enough, and do we care enough, to begin healing some of the wounds we've inflicted on the natural world?"--Scott Weidensaul, author of "Return to Wild America" and "Mountains of the Heart"
"This is a beautifully written account of the passing of one of the botanical wonders of the North American landscape, the American chestnut tree, which was nearly extirpated by a plague that entered the ecosystem and swept these great trees away. Freinkel, a gifted writer whose research is impeccable and whose reporting is topnotch, tells of the impassioned work of scientists over the past century and up to today, trying to bring the American chestnut back from the brink of extinction. Only a person in love with trees could have written this lovely book."--Richard Preston, author of "The Hot Zone" and "The Wild Trees"
"Graceful, provocative, and inspiring. Thoreau would be proud."--Alan Burdick, author of "Out of Eden," a 2005 National Book Award finalist
"In this beautifully written volume, Susan Freinkel ably describes the marriage of science and passion that is being brought to bear tosave this majestic American tree from extinction. The people whose ancestors lived among chestnut trees and their places come alive for the reader, as does the appearance and spread of the blight and the heroes who are struggling with it today. The book concludes with a tantalizing vision of chestnuts in the forests again--a thought of making the world right where it has gone wrong."--Peter H. Raven, Director of the Missouri Botanical Garden

General

Imprint:	University of California Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	April 2009
First published:	April 2009
Authors:	Susan Freinkel
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	304
ISBN-13:	978-0-520-25994-2
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > General Books > Professional & Technical > Agriculture & farming > Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Conservation of the environment > General Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Plant life: general > General Books > Biography > General
LSN:	0-520-25994-7
Barcode:	9780520259942

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