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Narrated by Basil Sands
Hank LentferUnabridged — 8 hours, 29 minutes
Narrated by Basil Sands
Hank LentferUnabridged — 8 hours, 29 minutes
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In prose that powerfully evokes the richness of the landscape he writes about, Lentfer takes readers on a touching and remarkable journey, managing to create a heartfelt portrait not only of his complex and fascinating subject but also of the people Nelson loved and the place he called home. With its artful presentation of a writer’s life and struggles, Raven’s Witness takes readers on a profoundly American adventure that soars through last word.
A lovely tribute that illuminates what makes a life extraordinary.
An anthropological saga, a literary gem about the legendary “Nels,” one of the most extraordinary naturalists of our time.
[Lentfer] had a wealth of material to work with, and has done a magnificent job of crafting a well-organized and literary book of his own from that abundance.
Anyone who cares about the wilder corners of this Earth, and the indigenous people and animals that have successfully inhabited them, should know the work of Richard Nelson, a remarkable anthropologist and superb writer who died last year. A fine introduction to his life can be found in a new biography, ‘Raven’s Witness.'
This book makes me want to ponder over our connections with nature and the meaning of spirituality for each one of us. Such is the power of its quality of writing and the subject of the book, Richard K. Nelson. There can never be enough of books like this.
A fine biography, and a memorable introduction to an exceptional man.
Lentfer’s refined and evocative writing is enriched by excerpts from Nels’s eloquent, revealing journal entries.... Packed with relevant messages, Lentfer’s biography is a timely reminder to heed the advice of students who have learned from the greatest teacher of all: nature.
Hank Lentfer’s Raven’s Witness is an exceptional biography of Richard Nelson, and a gift to us. Reading it we come to understand, through Nelson’s life, how the immediacy of the senses, flowing across the earth—touch, taste, scent, sight, sound—transcend whatever other feeble boundaries we construct. Nelson emerges here as a most passionate participant in these senses, and in that immediacy, endures.
Even more than a brilliant biography, Raven’s Witness creates an entirely new genre—a beautifully told story of the ethos of gratitude and joy that is born when an extraordinary man immerses himself in the culture of sea-ice people and the wisdom of a wild island.
Mr. Lentfer was a friend and expedition partner to Nelson, and he skillfully portrays the trials of a life stretched taut between these two different ways of knowing and occupying…. Lentfer’s book is particularly good at evoking the piercing beauties of all that was outside, and the bliss Nelson found there.
I savored every page of this magical, beautifully-woven book – the story of one man’s apprenticeship to Alaska’s northern wisdom and wild joy. The final pages brought me to laughter and tears, inspired by Richard Nelson’s humility and respect. His great heart forever open – listening.
Raven’s Witness is the Alaska book I’ve waited lifelong to read. Hank Lentfer’s gorgeous account of the evolution of Richard K. Nelson’s life and thought is a godsend. Half a century ago Nelson realized how wrong it was to send Native Alaskans our teachers when we should be begging theirs to teach us, and Lentfer describes the ways he came to live that realization.
A beautifully told story of a well-lived life.
An inherently fascinating and impressively informative biography, 'Raven's Witness: The Alaska Life of Richard K. Nelson' will prove to be of immense interest to readers.
Raven’s Witness is the perfect mix of poetic voice and scientifically infused prose. This book takes us on one man’s journey of passion and insight that stems from Alaska’s wilderness and its people. The writing style is thoughtful, and the end result is a story that seeps into the soul of the reader.
Raven’s Witness not only introduces Richard Nelson to those of us who had not heard of him, but more importantly it lays bare the philosophies that he embraced, that will likely be important for the future of humanity.
08/01/2020
Lentfer, lifelong Alaskan and author of Faith of Cranes, offers this tribute to friend, anthropologist, and environmental writer Richard K. Nelson (1941–2019). Readers will be fascinated to learn how Nelson, who grew up in Wisconsin with an interest in reptiles, developed into a scholar of Alaska Native cultures, and how those academic pursuits would morph, more generally, into studies of humankind's relationship to nature. Those interests would be expressed in acclaimed books (Hunters of the Northern Ice; The Island Within), activism, and, much later, radio programs; Nelson would earn recognition as host of the public radio series Encounters. Lentfer, a biologist by training, provides a generous sampling from Nelson's books, letters, and journals. Drawing on these, and not infrequently his own imaginative license, the author gives compelling shape to his subject's vigor and curiosity, showing the contradictions of his life, including Nelson's dislike of winter. Along the way, readers can savor his brilliant, sensitive observations of Alaska Natives, along with the state's flora, fauna, and land. VERDICT For those unfamiliar with Nelson's thought and work, this book serves as an engaging introduction, and probable precursor, to more exhaustive critical biographies to come.—Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.
| BN ID: | 2940176479690 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tantor Audio |
| Publication date: | 09/08/2020 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
