Matthews, Anne
Wild Nights: Nature Returns to the City
Publisher: North Point Press, January 1, 2001.
Edition: First
Book Condition: New
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 0865475601 / 9780865475601
"Deer in Manhattan, coyotes in the Bronx, wild turkeys flying down Broadway: among the traffic and tall buildings of America's most urban terrain, another city - suppressed and segregated during daylight, exceedingly lively from twilight to dawn - has begun to stake a new claim. Wild Nights is a startling tour of this other New York, revealing how stubbornly nature reasserts itself, adapting its survival strategies to even the most violently resculpted terrain. In this first predominantly urban period in human history, confrontation and competition with the natural world are becoming everyday occurrences. Some encounters charm us; some we dread; some we badly misunderstand. Anne Matthews explores them, examining the implications of this unexpected and powerful resurgence of nature for the fate of a world of megacities and suburban hyper sprawl. Animated by her keen wit and eye, and anatomized by the often warring theories of scientists, historians, and environmentalists. New York emerges as a case study in civilization on the brink of environmental overreach."--Book jacket front cover flap.
From Library Journal
"Wild doesn't always mean natural, and urban is rarely the same as tame" is one of the toughest lessons for humans to learn, according to Matthews (Where the Buffalo Roam, LJ 6/1/92), a contributing editor at Preservation magazine. This volume explores nature's resurgence in cities, focusing mainly on the Greater New York City area. During the late-night and early-morning hours, nature is making a noticeable comeback in this urban sprawl. Before sunrise, coyotes prowl the Bronx, peregrine falcons haunt the canyons of Wall Street, and wild turkeys roam Central Park. What does the future hold for these displaced species, the plants and animals that have been propelled beyond their natural ranges into habitats where they were never meant to be? Despite continual human intervention, nature constantly tries to reclaim what was once hers. The author ponders the future of New York and similar megacities in the year 2050 and suggests that residents may need gondolas instead of cars. This is an interesting mix of ecological, natural, and environmental history as well as social commentary. Recommended where interest warrants. Deborah Emerson, Rochester Regional Lib. Council, Fairport, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
New York may appear to have banished nature, but with Matthews serving as tour guide, the city is revealed as a complex ecosystem teeming with wildlife. Parrots roost in the Bronx; falcons and wild turkeys dwell in Manhattan; black bear and coyote forage on the city's outskirts; and raccoons teach their kits to look both ways before crossing the street. As more wilderness is eradicated, an ever-increasing number of animal species are becoming urbanites and suburbanites, adapting to life in close proximity to humankind, like New York's gargantuan rat population. And then there's the bacterial world, which makes its power felt in such frightening displays as the West Nile virus outbreak. By evoking a rich spectrum of emotions from awe to amusement to distress, Matthews' finely written, mind-expanding natural history of the city subtly makes the point that as humanity claims more and more of the planet, we must take on greater responsibility for sustaining its harmony and balance. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
About the Author
Anne Matthews is the author of two previous books, Where the Buffalo Roam and Bright College Years. She is a contributing editor for Preservation magazine.
Item #8278
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