The book of eels: our enduring fascination with the most mysterious creature in the natural world
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Contributors:
Broomé, Alice, translator.
Published:
New York: Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, ©2020.
Format:
Book
Edition:
First edition.
Physical Desc:
241 pages ; 22 cm
Status:
Orange/Case Adult Nonfiction Book
597.43 Svensson
Description

"Part H Is for Hawk, part The Soul of an Octopus, The Book of Eels is both a meditation on the world's most elusive fish-the eel-and a reflection on the human condition. Remarkably little is known about the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. So little, in fact, that scientists and philosophers have, for centuries, been obsessed with what has become known as the "eel question": Where do eels come from? What are they? Are they fish or some other kind of creature altogether? Even today, in an age of advanced science, no one has ever seen eels mating or giving birth, and we still don't understand what drives them, after living for decades in freshwater, to swim great distances back to the ocean at the end of their lives. They remain a mystery. Drawing on a breadth of research about eels in literature, history, and modern marine biology, as well as his own experience fishing for eels with his father, Patrik Svensson crafts a mesmerizing portrait of an unusual, utterly misunderstood, and completely captivating animal. In The Book of Eels, we meet renowned historical thinkers, from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud to Rachel Carson, for whom the eel was a singular obsession. And we meet the scientists who spearheaded the search for the eel's point of origin, including Danish marine biologist Johannes Schmidt, who led research efforts in the early twentieth century, catching thousands upon thousands of eels, in the hopes of proving their birthing grounds in the Sargasso Sea. Blending memoir and nature writing at its best, Svensson's journey to understand the eel becomes an exploration of the human condition that delves into overarching issues about our roots and destiny, both as humans and as animals, and, ultimately, how to handle the biggest question of all: death. The result is a gripping and slippery narrative that will surprise and enchant."--

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Subjects
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Language:
English
ISBN:
9780062968814, 0062968815

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages [237]-241).
Description
"Part H Is for Hawk, part The Soul of an Octopus, The Book of Eels is both a meditation on the world's most elusive fish-the eel-and a reflection on the human condition. Remarkably little is known about the European eel, Anguilla anguilla. So little, in fact, that scientists and philosophers have, for centuries, been obsessed with what has become known as the "eel question": Where do eels come from? What are they? Are they fish or some other kind of creature altogether? Even today, in an age of advanced science, no one has ever seen eels mating or giving birth, and we still don't understand what drives them, after living for decades in freshwater, to swim great distances back to the ocean at the end of their lives. They remain a mystery. Drawing on a breadth of research about eels in literature, history, and modern marine biology, as well as his own experience fishing for eels with his father, Patrik Svensson crafts a mesmerizing portrait of an unusual, utterly misunderstood, and completely captivating animal. In The Book of Eels, we meet renowned historical thinkers, from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud to Rachel Carson, for whom the eel was a singular obsession. And we meet the scientists who spearheaded the search for the eel's point of origin, including Danish marine biologist Johannes Schmidt, who led research efforts in the early twentieth century, catching thousands upon thousands of eels, in the hopes of proving their birthing grounds in the Sargasso Sea. Blending memoir and nature writing at its best, Svensson's journey to understand the eel becomes an exploration of the human condition that delves into overarching issues about our roots and destiny, both as humans and as animals, and, ultimately, how to handle the biggest question of all: death. The result is a gripping and slippery narrative that will surprise and enchant."--,Provided by publisher.
Language
In English, translated from the Swedish.
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Svensson, P., & Broomé, A. (2020). The book of eels: our enduring fascination with the most mysterious creature in the natural world. First edition. New York, Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Svensson, Patrik, 1972- and Alice, Broomé. 2020. The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination With the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World. New York, Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Svensson, Patrik, 1972- and Alice, Broomé, The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination With the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World. New York, Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2020.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Svensson, Patrik and Alice Broomé. The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination With the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World. First edition. New York, Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2020.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
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Grouped Work ID:
fad8665a-374a-8691-1840-795010b165e0
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Record Information

Last Sierra Extract TimeMar 25, 2024 06:31:49 PM
Last File Modification TimeMar 25, 2024 06:32:12 PM
Last Grouped Work Modification TimeMar 25, 2024 06:31:57 PM

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