Autumn: A Season of Change

By Peter J. Marchand

Book Overview

An expert on winter now turns his talents to fall. With Peter J. Marchand, author of the award-winning Life in the Cold as your guide, fall becomes much more than trees turning, killing frosts, birds migrating, and invigorating crisp weather. Dig under the fallen leaves and heavy mists with him to discover a vibrant world. Readers learn the whys and wherefores of these events, but much, much more, as Marchand answers questions most nonspecialists have. Though fall appears to be primarily a transitional season, he shows how many remarkable and essential natural processes happen routinely only during this period. He describes such topics as timekeeping in plants and animals, food hoarding, seed dispersal, and animal mating behavior among the large mammals of the North. His book is organized by theme rather than by species, so that similar adaptation mechanisms can be compared. Marchand has a demonstrated skill in making scientific facts easily understood, while also conveying the beauty and wonder of what he describes. Also an accomplished photographer, his many beautiful full-page photos show unusual aspects of the season.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0874518695
• ISBN13: 9780874518696
• Release Date: June 2000
• Publisher: University Press of New England
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

science as well as sensitivity

As with everything Peter J. Marchand has written, this book combines a deep and broad knowledge of ecology and ecosystems with the sentiment of one who loves the natural world. This book clearly discusses and defines the changes taking place as we move from the warm and intense months of summer into the transition period of autumn. Excellent for both the scientist as well as the natural history buff.

He's done it again

Peter Marchand's "Autumn," an accessible account of the biology of fall, describes the many changes that define my favorite time of year.As in "Life in the Cold," Marchand does his best to describe sometimes complex processes in plain language, and for the most part he succeeds. His depictions of leaf senescence, cold adaptation, and migrations are excellent. I especially appreciate the literary contributions (from Thoreau and others), which help balance the generally technical presentation.For most of us, autumn is a time of contrasts, with brilliant colors fading to winter's gloom. So Marchand's decision to use black-and-white photographs, intended to help us "see beyond the sometimes distracting color of the season," is a bit puzzling. His photographs are beautiful, but I can't help but wonder how they would have looked in color. Apparently black-and-white is distracting!Minor quibbles aside, Peter Marchand has once again proven that he has a gift for helping us see the obvious and understand the unseen. I can't wait for "Spring!"