Elizabeth J. Rosenthal
So now we have two biographies to choose from about Roger Tory Peterson. I described the first one, Roger Tory Peterson by Carlson, as unembellished, imagine Jack Webb’s “Just the facts, ma’am.” Rosenthal gives us a look at the man himself, not just his career and accomplishments. If, when watching a sports cast you pay more attention to the information about the athlete’s lives than to the game itself, this is the book for you. You’ll find out the difference between those who thought of him as a great man, and those who described is as ‘the Great Man.’ It’s not always a pretty picture, which is exactly why I, who tunes in for the stories, recommend this book.
Hardcover, 437 pages + 16-page photo insert, 6 1/4 x 9 ¼, full-color photographs, b&w photographs, April 2008
See our Roger Tory Peterson Page for more books by or about Mr. Peterson.
From the publisher: “Roger Tory Peterson—the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds—also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first book designed to go outdoors and help people identify the elements of nature. This self-proclaimed “student of nature” combined spectacular writing with detailed illustrations to ultimately publish many other books, winning every possible award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and conservation. Peterson also traveled the world, giving lectures on behalf of the National Audubon Society and, despite his self-effacing demeanor, becoming recognized as the key force to alerting the public to the importance of preserving nature. There are now an estimated 70 million birdwatchers in the United States.
For this meticulously detailed biography, Elizabeth Rosenthal interviewed more than one hundred people, including Peterson’s family, friends, and associates, to create a fully rounded portrait of this hero of the conservation movement. Never-before-seen photographs enhance this intimate portrayal. The book is timed for his 100th birthday celebration in August, 2008.
