Our Nature

In these captivating essays (most have appeared previously in Sports Illustrated and Audubon, Gilbert (In God's Countries examines the connection between social and natural history, and includes personal adventures as well. The author follows part of Sir John Franklin's Arctic route, canoes on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, snowshoes and camps in Pennsylvania's coldest county, and searches for freshwater springs in Manhattan. He writes about Sir William Drummond Stewart, the prototypical outdoorsman, Thomas Nuttall, the nature historian, a colony of monk parrots in Chicago, rattlesnakes and grizzly bears. Gilbert is priceless on the subject of foraging: his expertise encompasses the gathering of papaws and the organizing of home-style maple surgarings. This is undiluted pleasure for nature-lovers. (May 23)