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Linda J. Lear
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Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature Paperback – Illustrated, April 1, 2009

by Linda Lear (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 55 ratings
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Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, published in 1962, did more than any other single publication to alert the world to the hazards of environmental poisoning and to inspire a powerful social movement that would alter the course of American history. This definitive, sweeping biography shows the origins of Carson's fierce dedication to natural science--and tells the dramatic story of how Carson, already a famous nature writer, became a brillant if reluctant reformer. Drawing on unprecendented access to sources and interviews, Lear masterfully explores the roots of Carson's powerful connection to the natural world, crafting a " fine portrait of the environmentalist as a human being" (Smithsonian).

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  1. Print length
    688 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    April 1, 2009
  4. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1.75 x 8.75 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0547238231
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0547238234
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Linda Lear is the editor of Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson. She was consultant to the PBS television documentary "The Silent Spring of Rachel Carson" for The American Experience, and is a founder of the Lear/Carson archive at Connecticut College. Her most recent book is Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature. She resides in Bethesda, MD.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books; Reprint edition (April 1, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 688 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0547238231
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0547238234
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.75 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1.75 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

About the author

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Linda J. Lear

Linda J. Lear

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Linda Lear is an environmental historian and the author of two prize-winning biographies: Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature (2009) and Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature (2007). She has written the introduction to the 50th anniversary edition of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (2012) and edited an anthology of Carson's unpublished writing, Lost Woods: The Discovered Writing of Rachel Carson (1998). She maintains www.rachelcarson.org. Linda lives in Bethesda, Maryland and Charleston, South Carolina.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
55 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Dale Janette Barclay
5.0 out of 5 stars Rachel Carson was the best interpreter of the natural world and its importance to humans.
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2022
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This biography does Rachel Carson justice--she has been proven right about environmental toxins. In her life cut short by cancer, she wrote scientific works in understandable and pleasurable language for non-scientists. It was a talent many envied and many appreciated. Linda Lear did the same for her with this biography. It makes us feel the tremendous burden she carried as she told the world the truth about pesticides. I was moved almost to tears by her bravery.
2 people found this helpful
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News Fan
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Biography of an Extraordinary Woman
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2021
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Linda Lear has done a great service in this beautifully written book about Rachel Carson. Exhaustively researched, Lear is a great storyteller and keeps you interested in every part of Carson’s life. This book deals more with Carson’s family background and personal life than Souder’s excellent subsequent bio of Carson, and the two are very complimentary.
2 people found this helpful
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ImmortalOne
4.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Comprehensive
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2014
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I needed this for an essay in college. I have to say that I was rather impressed with the author and content in the book. I found that I really enjoyed learning about Rachel in this format and used this book for a lot of my references.
4 people found this helpful
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Marc C. Puckett
5.0 out of 5 stars Almost as well researched as Silent Spring
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2012
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Terrific biography and a must read for anyone interested in Rachel Carson and her full if tragically short life. I found a number of her favorite books by reading this and got a real appreciation for the times in which she lived and the difficulty she faced as a woman, writer and scientist.
6 people found this helpful
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Music in PA
5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2017
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This is an extremely well-researched book. The wealth of anecdotal information makes Rachel Carson come to life. She was an amazing woman, ahead of her time, and this book lovingly tells her story.
4 people found this helpful
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patsys
3.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book about Rachel Carson and what she has meant to us each and all.
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2023
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Unfortunately the book is very poorly put together and the more you read, the more the book falls apart!!! Hopefully there will be a better edition put out -- very much worth it! Everyone should read this-- particularly those who care about our earth!
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S. Wilts
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2013
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Carefully researched and well-written, only increased my respect for Rachel and the work she did while so very ill. An inspiration to us all
3 people found this helpful
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Gail Milne
3.0 out of 5 stars It is okay
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2013
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I have found this tedious. The author has written it almost like she is making a chronology of every detail of her life. If she met someone their name is in the book. Her relationship with and responsibility for her mother could have been handled in a paragraph or two summing up much. It is very dry. When she meets someone new or makes a friend you expect it to flesh out but it doesn't. Not done yet - time for improvement perhaps.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Michael Jessen
5.0 out of 5 stars Great biography
Reviewed in Canada on October 12, 2018
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Detailed and inspiring life of Rachel Carson who should be one of everyone's environmental heroes. She gave so much of herself for us.
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Deb
5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 30, 2011
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This is one of the best books that I have read in a long time - could not put it down and finished it within a week and it is a big book!

Linda Lear has worked meticulously to acquire lots of information about Rachel Carson - in her personal and professional life and I really felt that by the end of the book - I had really got ot know the real Carson. Rachel was a very intelligent woman who made huge strides in a male dominated world of science, despite lots of issues in her family life which could have easily held her back. I loved reading about her friendship with Dorothy Freeman so much that I am patiently waiting for their book of letters to each other to arrive from the USA so I can read more.

This book demonstrates the contribution that Carson made to essentially kicking off the environmental concerns of the world with the publication of her famous book Silent Spring which exposed the disastrous effects on wildlife and humans caused by the widespread insecticide programmes in the USA in the early 20th century.

I highly recommend this book and am going to buy a few more copies to give to friends for presents.
2 people found this helpful
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Traceywithane
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2019
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Excellent read. Good service from book company.
One person found this helpful
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Natalie Devillers
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2014
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Used for a school project,
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Lilia333
4.0 out of 5 stars Really Insightful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2021
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Very insightful bio which helped no end with a uni paper I was writing on Rachel Carson. I think this is by far the most comprehensive and detailed bio out there on her work and life. Bear in mind that the book is HUGE - you'll need lots of shelf space! Written in a compelling and very readable style. Really recommend
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