KENT, Conn.—The House of Books will host a talk centered on a world-renowned former Litchfield County resident, George B. Schaller, who is considered “the father of modern field biology.”
Author Miriam Horn will present “Homesick for a World Unknown: The Live of George B. Shaller,” the first-ever biography of Schaller. Schaller’s Roxbury residence was his homebase between his legendary field expeditions to the Himalayas, the Amazon and the Serengeti. Now in his 90s, he has since moved to New Hampshire.
George Schaller remade our understanding of animals and how to study them, training Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and three generations of wildlife scientists in 32 countries including China, India, Afghanistan, Tanzania and Brazil.
Walking more of the planet than anyone before or since, he sounded the earliest alarms that a “great dying” was befalling the world; without him, Congo’s mountain gorillas, India’s tigers and China’s pandas would probably no longer survive in the wild.
In a starred review, Library Journal said, “More than a biography, the book shares Schaller’s roadmap to conservation, which seeks to protect not only endangered wildlife but also the humans who live near them and face the same threats. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of conservation, as well as readers looking for solutions to current-day conservation crises.”
Miriam Horn is a bestselling author, environmental advocate, journalist and filmmaker. Her previous books include “Rebels in White Gloves, Earth: The Sequel” (coauthor) and “Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman.”
She has produced two documentary films, with one premiering at Sundance. Before turning to books, Horn worked at the Environmental Defense Fund and the U.S. Forest Service and wrote for magazines and newspapers. For more information on Miriam Horn and George Schaller, including a glimpse of his private archive, go to miriamhorn.com.
Register here.