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The Golden Spruce
The award-winning international bestseller
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Format: Paperback / softback
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On a bleak winter night in 1997, a British Columbia timber scout named Grant Hadwin committed an act of shocking violence: he destroyed the legendary Golden Spruce of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
'His story is about one man and one tree, but it is much more than that. John Vaillant has written a work that will change how many people think about nature.' Sebastian Junger, author of THE PERFECT STORM.
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Description
The award-winning international bestseller and a timely, even prescient, portrait of man's troubled relationship with a vanishing world.
On a bleak winter night in 1997, a British Columbia timber scout named Grant Hadwin committed an act of shocking violence—he destroyed the legendary Golden Spruce of the Queen Charlotte Islands. With its rich colours, towering height, and luminous needles, the tree was a scientific marvel, beloved by the local Haida people who believed it sacred.
The Golden Spruce tells the story of the sadness which pushed Hadwin to such a desperate act of destruction—a bizarre environmental protest which acts as a metaphor for the challenge the world faces today. But it also raises the question of what then happened to Hadwin, who disappeared under suspicious circumstances and remains missing to this day.
Part thrilling mystery, part haunting depiction of the ancient beauty of the coastal wilderness, and part dramatic chronicle of the historical collision of Europeans and the native Haida, The Golden Spruce is a timely portrait of man's troubled relationship with a vanishing world.
A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed.
'His story is about one man and one tree, but it is much more than that. John Vaillant has written a work that will change how many people think about nature.' SEBASTIAN JUNGER
'Rich, painterly prose... Vaillant is absolutely spellbinding... His descriptions of the Queen Charlotte Islands, with their misty, murky light and hushed, cathedral-like forests, are haunting, and he does full justice to the noble, towering trees.' NEW YORK TIMES
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant is lauded for its vivid and evocative prose that captures the lush natural world of the Pacific Northwest. Reviewers praise Vaillant's ability to convey the mystique and beauty of the region and its ancient trees. The book delves into the historical and contemporary conflicts between various groups over natural resources while offering a haunting depiction of humanity's complex relationship with nature. The narrative is described as compelling and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on environmental issues.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780099515791
Publisher: Cornerstone
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 05 July 2007
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Arrow Books Ltd
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 20.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 243g
Pages: 352
About the Author
John Vaillant has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Outside, National Geographic Adventure, and Men's Journal among others, and his books have been translated into fifteen languages. Of particular interest to Vaillant are stories that explore collisions between human ambition and the natural world, and his work has taken him to five continents and five oceans. The Golden Spruce, his first book, is an international bestseller and won several awards, including the Governor General's Literary Award for Non-Fiction (Canada). Vaillant was awarded a Windham Campbell Prize in 2014. He lives in Vancouver with his wife and children.
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