The Living Great Lakes
Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Embark on a captivating journey through the vast and awe-inspiring Great Lakes of North America in this award-winning masterpiece by acclaimed nature author Jerry Dennis.
The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas is the definitive book about the history, nature, and science of these remarkable lakes at the heart of North America. From the geological forces that formed them to the industrial atrocities that nearly destroyed them, Dennis explores the five Great Lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—in all their complexity, portraying their significance as the largest body of fresh water on Earth and their impact on the lives of millions.
Drawing from his lifetime of experiences on and near the lakes, including a six-week voyage as a crewmember on a tallmasted schooner, the Michigan native weaves together captivating stories collected from biologists, fishermen, sailors, and others who have intimately connected with these inland seas. Through storms and fog, on remote shores and city waterfronts, Dennis discovers the surprising and bountiful view of America offered by the Great Lakes and their connecting waters.
The Living Great Lakes is a meditation on nature, a cautionary tale about the future of water resources, and a celebration of a place that is both fragile and robust, diverse, rich in history and wildlife, and worthy of our attention. This "masterwork" is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and appreciate the splendor and importance of the Great Lakes region.
Doug Stanton, author of In Harm's Way and 12 Strong
Winner of the Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award
Best Book of 2003 by the Outdoor Writers Association of America
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In his newest book, Dennis (From a Wooden Canoe) offers an engrossing description of being a crew member on the schooner Malabar on a six-week trip through the waters of Lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Capt. Hajo Knuttel and other crew members such as Tim, the ship's creative cook, spring to life in this modern adventure tale. Dennis weaves anecdotes from his childhood, such as a family-fishing trip on Lake Michigan, together with informed commentary on the natural history of the lakes and the people who live there as well as evocative descriptions of the enchanting view of the forests along Lake Superior from the schooner. His narrative is a continual reminder of the dangers inherent in navigating the waters of these magnificent lakes as he details their current condition; he explains that in the 1970s, Lake Erie's waters were saved from an ecological disaster by a public outcry, yet other waters are still in danger from commercial dumping. But all does not go smoothly for the Malabar; Dennis's narrative takes on an air of adventure when, toward the end of the trip, the Malabar and its crew encounter a terrifying storm. Photos not seen by PW. Regional author tour.
