Silent Spring: Drawings by Lois and Louis Darling
by Rachel Carson
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good
- Seller
-
MOAB, Utah, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Cambridge, MA: Houghton Mifflin / Riverside Press, 1962. First edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Very good or a little better stated first printing forest green clothbound hardcover. No dust jacket. Mildly faded gilt lettering on the front cover and spine with light rubbing at the edges and slight wear otherwise. Endpapers are waving white and black lines on a dark teal background. This attractive copy is free of names and markings. Ships securely boxed with tracking on domestic orders. 368 pp.
Synopsis
Silent Spring is a groundbreaking environmental science book by Rachel Carson that brought environmental concerns to the general population. It was published in 1962, a decade after Carson won the National Book Award for her best-selling book The Sea Around Us (1951). When Silent Spring was published, Rachel Carson was already a well-known writer on natural history but had not previously been a social critic. Silent Spring served as a catalyst for the modern environmental movement, shedding light on the detrimental effects of indiscriminate pesticide use on ecosystems and human health. Examining the widespread use of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, and their unintended consequences on wildlife and the environment, Carson exposes how pesticides harm beneficial insects, birds, and aquatic life. Silent Spring argues that these chemicals accumulate in the food chain, posing serious risks to human beings. Upon its release, Silent Spring sparked both praise and controversy. The book's publication history reflects this dynamic reception. The first edition was published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1962, with illustrations by Louis and Lois Darling. The initial print run of 50,000 copies sold out quickly, indicating the significant public interest in the subject matter. The book's first edition has a few notable points. The cover of the first edition features a striking illustration of a forest with silhouetted birds created by Paul Bacon. The book consists of 17 chapters and ends with a chapter titled "The Other Road," which suggests alternative methods of pest control that are less harmful to the environment. Despite initial criticism from the chemical industry and agricultural interests, Silent Spring garnered widespread acclaim for its scientific rigor and persuasive arguments. It raised awareness about the need for environmental protection and led to increased scrutiny of pesticide use. The book ultimately influenced policy changes, such as the banning of DDT in the United States and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring remains a seminal work in environmental literature, inspiring generations of activists, scientists, and policymakers to address the ecological challenges facing our planet. Its enduring impact continues to shape environmental discourse and conservation efforts worldwide.
Read More: Identifying first editions of Silent Spring
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Details
- Bookseller
- Terracotta Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 5809
- Title
- Silent Spring
- Author
- Rachel Carson
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First edition
- Publisher
- Houghton Mifflin / Riverside Press
- Place of Publication
- Cambridge, MA
- Date Published
- 1962
- Keywords
- Silent Spring, Rachel Carson
Terms of Sale
Terracotta Books
All orders are subject to prior sale. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. All books are returnable within 14 days with prior notification if book is returned in the same condition as shipped. Shipping: Media Mail $3.50 Priority Mail $5.50.
About the Seller
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
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