Returning North with the Spring

"Harris's thrilling revisit is a powerful addition to nature-writing in its own right."–Janisse Ray, author of . "Following in the footsteps of one of the sweetest adventures any American ever took, John Harris demonstrates that the beauty of the American East, even on a warming planet, is still hauntingly deep."–Bill McKibben, author of . won the Pulitzer Prize, and Teale became the most recognized nature writer of his day.

Yet Harris also discovers that many of the vulnerable sites Teale described have been newly "rewilded" or permanently protected by the government. He looks at current restoration projects, models of sustainable residential development, efforts to control invasive species, and environmental success stories such as the alligator, the bald eagle, and the black bear. Along the way, he meets an array of ecologists, naturalists, and beloved authors who join in his adventure by sharing their memories and experiences of the natural environment in Eastern North America.

Homage to the past, report on the present, glimpse into the future–this book honors what has been lost in the years since Teale’s famous journey and finds hope in the small tenacities of nature.