Author talk to focus on eminent biologist

KENT, Conn.—The House of Books will in May 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, Wednesday, May 13, at 6 p.m.

Schaller’s Roxbury residence was his home base between his legendary field expeditions to the Himalayas, the Amazon, and the Serengeti. Now in his 90s, he has since moved to New Hampshire.

Schaller remade the 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.” 

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, visit miriamhorn.com.

Register here.