The Edge of the Sea

From the author of one of the most influential books of the twentieth century, Silent Spring, The Edge of the Sea is part handbook, part hymn to ecological complexity that conveys the sense of wonder in nature for which Rachel Carson is justly celebrated.

With a new introduction from New York Times bestselling author Sy Montgomery for the 70th anniversary, it is a brilliant, beautiful exploration of the Atlantic seashore that is still relevant today.

In this remarkable book, Rachel Carson explores the strange and beautiful places at the edge of the sea, leading us into unknown worlds to catch the evanescent beauty of a tide pool and tell the story of a grain of sand.

Focusing on the plants and invertebrates surviving in the Atlantic zones between the lowest and the highest tides, between Newfoundland and the Florida Keys, The Edge of the Sea is divided into three main sections: The Rocky Shore, The Rim of Sand, The Coral Coast. These environments are found the world over but because of its configuration in geological history, the American Atlantic coast demonstrates their life patterns “almost with the clarity of a well conceived scientific experiment."

With poetry and science she transforms the seemingly simple animal and plant life in the sea into complex and stunningly beautiful creatures deserving of our compassion, understanding, and finally, protection.