Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature [Paperback]

Linda Lear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, published in 1962, did more than any other single publication to alert the world to the hazards of environmental poisoning and to inspire a powerful social movement that would alter the course of American history. This definitive, sweeping biography shows the origins of Carson's fierce dedication to natural science--and tells the dramatic story of how Carson, already a famous nature writer, became a brillant if reluctant reformer. Drawing on unprecendented access to sources and interviews, Lear masterfully explores the roots of Carson's powerful connection to the natural world, crafting a " fine portrait of the environmentalist as a human being" (Smithsonian).

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Environmental historian Linda Lear does justice to the tragic dimensions of Rachel Carson's life in her prologue, which shows the author of Silent Spring, even as she was dying of cancer, testifying calmly before a congressional subcommittee whose investigation of the dangers of pesticides were prompted by her book. Lear portrays Carson (1907-1964) with affection and discernment as a remarkable woman who overcame prejudice against female scientists and aroused post-World War II America to the beauties of nature and the technological threats against it in a series of deservedly popular books. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

From childhood days, Carson loved nature while showing enormous promise as an author. In college, she began as an English major before switching to biology, and in her federal government job, she used her scientific training to write many publications. In 1951, Carson published her first best seller, The Sea Around Us. Ten years later, while fighting a losing battle with breast cancer, she published Silent Spring, which generated enormous controversy. Environmental historian Lear presents a mostly affectionate and satisfying portrait of Carson. An afterword with information on what happened to Carson's ward, Roger; her close friend Dorothy Freeman; and others would have been appreciated. Lear also fails to explore fully the contradictions in Carson's life, such as her willingness to abide familial manipulations while letting nothing stand in her way when working on a project. Nevertheless, this is an excellent treatment of a founder of modern environmentalism. Recommended.
-?Randy Dykhuis, Michigan Lib. Consortium, Lansing
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Reprint edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547238231
• ISBN-13: 978-0547238234
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You Rachel, May 14, 2005

By 

Seachranaiche (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature (Paperback)

How many people today remember Rachel Carson? When you see an eagle or a falcon or a hawk, you can than k Rachel Carson. Her book "Silent Spring" incited action almost immediately against irresponsible pesticide use, including DDT, and launched an ecology movement that led to the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. This is quite an accomplishment for an author of natural history books; Rachel Carson must have been larger than life, practically immortal, in order to have pulled this off.

But...as Linda Lear documents in extraordinary detail, Rachel Carson was entirely mortal, and all too human, and was not lacking in the faults most of us possess. Success came to Carson late (almost too late), but Carson's love of nature and her dogged determination allowed her to complete what is, perhaps, the most important book of the 20th Century before she succumbed to breast cancer. Lear's detail is incredibly deep; over and again she recounts instances from Carson's life that seem trivial and mundane until the reader feels bogged down in the excess of it. But this detail is critical, because Carson's life itself seemed mundane and trivial, that is until the last decade of it. Carson was a regular person-she was no superstar-and Lear's depth of detail is necessary in order to explain Carson's journey from a less-than-middle-class upbringing to government functionary to the preeminent nature writer of her time. Carson's life evolves slowly and ends tragically; she never married and she never had children-it is almost as if she was born to deliver "Silent Spring" at exactly the right moment in history, when it was needed the most, and then pass on.

In "Witness for Nature", Linda Lear does not allow Rachel Carson to become a cardboard icon of an earlier time; Lear recreates Carson as a complete person with loves and fears and faults. Carson's greatness rises on its own from Lear's writing.

For more information about Rachel Carson, also read Kirk Ward Robinson's "Founding Courage."

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extrordinary biography of an extrordinary woman., January 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature (Hardcover)

Lear's detailed biography offers an unmatched look at Carson's personal and professional life. This book takes the reader behind the scenes of Rachel Carson's brilliant works in order to demonstrate the difficulties that dogged her every day existance. Lear chronicles Carson's personal perservance and dedication to the environmental cause in an immensely readable format. A wonderful and inspiring book to read!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Renew your faith in humanity...read this book, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature (Paperback)

The first reviewer, Shari Just, has captured perfectly the quality, scope and value of Lear's biography. If you have ever wondered "can one person make a difference" this is the proof. A readable blend of history, place, people and events describing a modest scientist that loved to communicate scientific findings to a wider audience.