|
|
Home | About Us | Clients | Submissions | News | Events | Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prev << | >> Next |
Susan Freinkel
Susan Freinkel is an established national science journalist who writes regularly about botany, science and medicine for Discover, Smithsonian, Reader's Digest, Health, Organic Style, Real Simple, the New York Times and other major publications. Her first book is American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree, which asks the questions: What happens when a species vanishes? Once gone, can it be brought back? American Chestnut explores these timely questions through the story of one of this country's most important native trees, at least until the early 20th century, when it was obliterated by an imported plague known as chestnut blight. Billions of trees died in what has been described as "the worst ecological disaster to hit North America since the Ice Age." Now, a handful of hardy optimists are working to resurrect the tree, some relying on age-old breeding methods and others on modern gene-splicing techniques. Susan recently received one of journalism's most sought-after fellowships, an Alicia Patterson Foundation grant, to support her work on the book. Mary Roach, author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife says "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." Richard Preston, author of The Hot Zone and The Wild Trees, says "This is a beautifully-written account of the passing of one of the botanical wonders of the North American landscape.... [Freinkel is] a gifted writer whose research is impeccable and whose reporting is top-notch.... Only a person in love with trees could have written this lovely book." Weaving science, history and personal reflection, American Chestnut tells how the life and death of this once grand tree continues to reflect, as well as shape, America's relationship to nature. |
|
Prev << | >> Next |
 |
| ©2007 Ted Weinstein Literary Management |
|
|