Of Prairie, Woods, and Water: Two Centuries of Chicago Nature Writing
Zoomicon-zoom-in
Of Prairie, Woods, and Water: Two Centuries of Chicago Nature Writing

Of Prairie, Woods, and Water: Two Centuries of Chicago Nature Writing

By
Joel Greenberg (Contributor)  

Paperback

Available / dispatched within 1 - 4 weeks

Quantity
In the literary imagination, Chicago evokes images of industry and unbridled urban growth. But the tallgrass prairie and deep forests that once made up Chicago's landscape also inspired musings from residents and visitors alike. In "Of Prairie, Woods, and Water", naturalist Joel Greenberg gathers these unique voices from the land to present an unexpected portrait of Chicago in this often charming, sometimes heart-wrenching anthology of nature writing.These writings tell the tale of a land in transition - one with abundant, unique, and incredibly lush flora and fauna, a natural history quite elusive today. Drawing on archives he uncovered while writing his acclaimed "A Natural History of the Chicago Region", Greenberg hand-selected these first-person narratives, all written between 1721 and 1959. Not every author is familiar, but every contribution is distinctive. From a pioneer's hilarious notes on life in the Kankakee marsh to Theodore Dreiser's poignant plea for conservation of the Tippecanoe River to infamous murderer Nathan Leopold's charming description of a pet robin he kept in prison, the sources included are as diverse as the nature they describe.The excerpts conclude with insightful biographical essays and traverse a wide area of greater Chicagoland, from the Illinois River to southwest Michigan, from southern Wisconsin to the Limberlost swamp of northeastern Indiana. A fascinating record of Chicago's changing environmental history, "Of Prairie, Woods, and Water" captures the natural world in a way that will inspire its continued conservation.
Joel Greenberg is a naturalist, writer, and environmental consultant. He is the author of A Natural History of the Chicago Region and coauthor of A Birder's Guide to the Chicago Region.
  • Contributor: Joel Greenberg
  • Imprint: University of Chicago Press
  • ISBN13: 9780226306612
  • Number of Pages: 352
  • Packaged Dimensions: 16x23x2mm
  • Packaged Weight: 567
  • Format: Paperback
  • Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
  • Release Date: 2008-04-25
  • Binding: Paperback / softback
  • Biography: Joel Greenberg is a naturalist, writer, and environmental consultant. He is the author of A Natural History of the Chicago Region and coauthor of A Birder's Guide to the Chicago Region.

Delivery Options

Home Delivery

Store Delivery

Free Returns

We hope you are delighted with everything you buy from us. However, if you are not, we will refund or replace your order up to 30 days after purchase. Terms and exclusions apply; find out more from our Returns and Refunds Policy.