Who's your favorite nature writer?

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   Yard of natureposted 14 years ago

   In a time of video, web and text messaging, I still find great value in old-fashioned books. Two of my favorite nature writers are Sigurd Olson whose work in northern Minnesota and Canada helped the creation of The Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota and Quetico wilderness area in Canada just across the border. I'm also a fan of Edwin Way Teale, a Pulitzer Prize winning nature writer. I've been intrigued with his project that took him across the country during each of our four seasons. Very cool. Who's your favorite nature writer?

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      Mediator Heroineposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I did not know about those writers and will buy their publications if I can find them at the bookstore.
      
      I guess I am more old-fashioned but I like reading Edward Wilson (his publications on sociobiology) and Barry Lopez (Of Wolves and Men). Since I am an ecologist, I may have a more academical approach.
      
      I think that nature writers are usually poetic in style, don't you agree?

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         Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Olson and Teale are both writers from the 1950s and '60s.
         
         Olson is the more poetic of the two. He can find great beauty in a moonrise or a portage while canoeing. He was a wilderness guide who canoed for weeks at a time across the rivers of Canada.
         
         Teale was an Indiana native who moved to New York. He was more of your fatherly or grandfatherly type who drove across the nation in search of his material. More science, a bit of a travelogue, less poetry.

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   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   I love to read nature writers and poets. 
   rachel carson is excellent, beautiful work about the sea.
   
   john james audubon- writer and artist.
   
   I have to add both ralph waldo emerson and thoreau who didn't only write about nature, but their writings are so beautiful and thought provoking about life itself. take an hour or so to read some of walden from thoreau. many of america's greatest writers came from the concord area of mass. and walking through this area, you see why they were so inspired to write.
   
   another author who wrote about nature in rural settings is margorie kinnan rawlings. two of her best are the yearling and cross creek.

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      Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It's funny. I keep meaning to read Carson, but something always gets in the way.
      
      Audubon's work is excellent. I'm not familiar with Rawlings. I'll have to check her out.
      
      Emerson is timeless. I reviewed a book last year about walking Thoreau's trails; it was intriguing. Thoreau provided some interesting insights.

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         rebekahELLEposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         if you love reading poetic nature reading, you must read one of her books about the sea. (Carson)
         there's a wonderful book about great women who wrote about nature in florida. I know the author Linda Taylor and she has written two books on the subject. they are beautiful books with illustrations for each author.  you can google It's Our Nature and her site should come up and you'll see the section on books.
         
         she highlights different women and discusses how they discovered the beauty of nature and often wrote about it. It's called Great Women Discovering Nature.
         Rawlings and Carson are two of the women she writes about.

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            Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I'll check them out. I'm a few books behind in my review duties. And I know I'm way past due to read Carson's works.

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   Home Girlposted 14 years ago

   Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841),was killed in a duel. His poetry (in Russian)is amazing. He was called "the poet of Caucasus".

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      Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My Russian is lacking, in fact it's non-existent. A poet friend of mine would be interested in his demise. These days, wouldn't death by poetry slam seem more likely?

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         Mediator Heroineposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         This has been a great thread, thank you, Yard of nature for coming up with the idea.
         
         I am taking notes on the writers mentioned so that I can find their books and read, hopefully.
         
         About Carson, I am the same. I always want to read her book because I have read numerous citations from her but I end up postponing.
         
         Translations never match the real depth in poetry and a certain degree of proficiency is required to understand the real meaning between the lines. However, what can we do when we cannot learn all the languages?
         
         I have found Lermontov's poems in English and read a few. I liked the ones that I have read. Thanks for mentioning Home Girl

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            Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            One of the approaches I'm taking to the genre is honing in on regional writings. I'm finding I know a lot less about this Great Lake State (Michigan) I call home than I thought I knew. University presses such as University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University of a wealth of books on this region. If your interests are elsewhere, check out that area's university press. They likely have books on topics of great local interest.
            Thanks for stopping and commenting.

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   cosetteposted 14 years ago

   well he is not exactly a nature writer but a lot of his books take place outdoors: Jon Krakauer

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      Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not familiar with him. What does he write?

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   Nell Roseposted 14 years ago

   Hi, if you like a nature writer on hubpages D.A.L, is great. He writes about the English countryside.

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      Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I've been reading D.A.L. Very good.

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   saltposted 14 years ago

   my favorite nature presenter on tv is david attenborough

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      Yard of natureposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      He does good work, that's for sure.

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