The Treeline
The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth
Published on 12. January 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-1-5291-1250-4 (ISBN)
Description
A ground-breaking and beautifully written investigation into the Arctic Treeline with an urgent environmental message.
'Evocative, wise and unflinching' Jay Griffiths, author of Wild
The Arctic treeline is the frontline of climate change, where the trees have been creeping towards the pole for fifty years already.
Scientists are only just beginning to understand the astonishing significance of these northern forests for all life on Earth. At the treeline, Rawlence witnesses the accelerating impact of climate change and the devastating legacies of colonialism and capitalism. But he also finds reasons for hope. Humans are creatures of the forest; we have always evolved with trees and The Treeline asks us where our co-evolution might take us next.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE
'A moving, thoughtful, deeply reported elegy for our vanishing world and a map of the one to come' Nathaniel Rich, author of Losing Earth
'A lyrical and passionate book... The Treeline is a sobering, powerful account of how trees might just save the world, as long as we are sensible enough to let them' Mail on Sunday
'Ben Rawlence circumnavigates the very top of the globe - returning with a warning, in this enthralling and wonderfully written book' Mark Lynas, author of Six Degrees
'Evocative, wise and unflinching' Jay Griffiths, author of Wild
The Arctic treeline is the frontline of climate change, where the trees have been creeping towards the pole for fifty years already.
Scientists are only just beginning to understand the astonishing significance of these northern forests for all life on Earth. At the treeline, Rawlence witnesses the accelerating impact of climate change and the devastating legacies of colonialism and capitalism. But he also finds reasons for hope. Humans are creatures of the forest; we have always evolved with trees and The Treeline asks us where our co-evolution might take us next.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES CROPPER WAINWRIGHT PRIZE
'A moving, thoughtful, deeply reported elegy for our vanishing world and a map of the one to come' Nathaniel Rich, author of Losing Earth
'A lyrical and passionate book... The Treeline is a sobering, powerful account of how trees might just save the world, as long as we are sensible enough to let them' Mail on Sunday
'Ben Rawlence circumnavigates the very top of the globe - returning with a warning, in this enthralling and wonderfully written book' Mark Lynas, author of Six Degrees
Reviews / Votes
This original and readable book takes readers to a part of the world undergoing radical but little-understood change. * Financial Times, *Books of the Year* * An urgent and insightful tour of some of the world's strangest, most bewitching and most endangered environments... This is an important book, and one I will be pressing into other people's hands. -- Cal Flyn, author of ISLANDS OF ABANDONMENT [A] sweeping account of the Arctic forest that circles the world in an almost unbroken ring. * Financial Times * [A] lyrical and passionate book... The Treeline is a sobering, powerful account of how trees might just save the world. -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday * [An] urgent investigation into the Arctic treeline... a meticulously researched and compellingly presented read. -- Hannah Beckerman * Observer * Twill rightly provoke fear, but also a sense of wonder ... A beautiful and evocative portrait of the natural world. It is essential reading for those hoping to better understand our changing planet. -- Tom Lathan * Spectator * Rawlence is a fine ecologist and an excellent writer... The Treeline is timely, salutary and eminently readable. Excellent. -- Colin Tudge * Resurgence & Ecology * Ben Rawlence... writes with accuracy, beauty and urgency. -- Andrew Robinson * Nature * [A] moving, thoughtful, deeply reported elegy for our vanishing world and a map of the one to come. -- Nathaniel Rich, author of LOSING EARTH A fascinating book drawing on a brilliant, original line of thinking... A perfect combination of lyrical writing and rigorous reporting. Utterly illuminating. -- Sophy Roberts, author of THE LOST PIANOS OF SIBERIAMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 48 mm
Weight
285 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5291-1250-4 (9781529112504)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2022
Vintage Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
Ben Rawlence is the author of The Treeline, City of Thorns and Radio Congo. Rawlence has written for the Guardian, London Review of Books, New York Times, New York Times Book Review, New Yorker and many other publications. He lives in Wales and is the founder and director of Black Mountains College, an institution dedicated to preparing people for the changes to come.