About the Author

Peter Matthiessen is a writer, naturalist, environmental activist, and wilderness traveler whose many works of nonfiction include" The Snow Leopard," and whose most recent novel is "Bone by Bone," which concludes his powerful Watson trilogy.

Reviews

"A gorgeous, plangent work: a cri de coeur for the cranes' protection and a testament to Matthiessen's enduring high caliber as writer and world traveler . . . [He] projects an undiminished passion for the specific creature, the distinct landscape, the cultural oddity, the startling word. In "The Birds of Heaven", he conveys that feeling through serendipitous prose as elegant as the stately birds that inspire him."--"The New York Times Book Review"

"[Matthiessen's] body of work in the last four decades is among the most impressive by any living American writer . . . As always, he has an impeccable eye . . . an informed understanding of the broad cultural, historical, and political context of the places and people he encounters, and an extraordinary talent for serendipitous adventure." --"Los Angeles Times"

“A gorgeous, plangent work: a cri de coeur for the cranes’ protection and a testament to Matthiessen’s enduring high caliber as writer and world traveler . . . [He] projects an undiminished passion for the specific creature, the distinct landscape, the cultural oddity, the startling word. In "The Birds of Heaven", he conveys that feeling through serendipitous prose as elegant as the stately birds that inspire him.”—"The New York Times Book Review"
“[Matthiessen’s] body of work in the last four decades is among the most impressive by any living American writer . . . As always, he has an impeccable eye . . . an informed understanding of the broad cultural, historical, and political context of the places and people he encounters, and an extraordinary talent for serendipitous adventure.” —"Los Angeles Times"

" A gorgeous, plangent work: a cri de coeur for the cranes' protection and a testament to Matthiessen' s enduring high caliber as writer and world traveler . . . [He] projects an undiminished passion for the specific creature, the distinct landscape, the cultural oddity, the startling word. In "The Birds of Heaven," he conveys that feeling through serendipitous prose as elegant as the stately birds that inspire him." -- "The New York Times Book Review"
" [Matthiessen' s] body of work in the last four decades is among the most impressive by any living American writer . . . As always, he has an impeccable eye . . . an informed understanding of the broad cultural, historical, and political context of the places and people he encounters, and an extraordinary talent for serendipitous adventure." -- "Los Angeles Times"

Celebrated naturalist-explorer-novelist Matthiessen was thrice nominated for the National Book Award, which he won for The Snow Leopard in 1980. Here, he takes a world view of cranes grand, stately birds of great dignity and grace documenting his adventures with fellow naturalists in China, Siberia, Mongolia, India, Japan, Africa, North America, Tibet, and Australia as they track the great birds. In a text accompanied by color reproductions of paintings by nature artist Robert Bateman, Matthiessen describes the venerable tradition of cranes in folklore and legend. He amply details the lives and futures of each of the 15 crane species while also investigating the history, peoples, lands, and cultures where they live. Well referenced and engagingly told, this rich book succeeds on several levels. Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/01.] Henry T. Armistead, Free Lib. of Philadelphia Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Prolific and gifted novelist and naturalist, National Book Award-winner Matthiessen (The Snow Leopard) provides literally a worldwide tableau in his quest for various subspecies of cranes. These large flying birds celebrated in myth and folklore are found everywhere from Siberia to Australia, sub-Saharan Africa to North America. The author moves through each of these diverse climes as he not only reminds readers of the awesome beauty of the natural world but also introduces them to fascinating bits of local history and legend. The title of the book derives from the lore of taiga-dwelling shamans, who believe these great birds possess the ability to traverse the three realms of heaven, earth and the underworld. In practical terms, that's not so far off: some species of cranes can fly as high as 20,000 feet, others migrate as far as 3,100 miles. In his wanderings, Matthiessen meets fellow travelers and "craniacs." Ornithologists, guides and hunters offer intriguing anecdotes about cranes and other creatures encountered during their adventures and misadventures in various wildernesses. Additionally, Matthiessen reaches into his store of historical and political knowledge about these remote places. He good-humoredly details, for example, the reluctant cooperation between Russian and Chinese environmental authorities as they try to study and ensure the survival of the various threatened crane subspecies that dwell along their faraway, beautiful, but politically tense borderlands. Eloquent and graceful, this lovely, moving narrative will inspire and delight readers with or without ornithological background or interests. Paintings and illus. not seen by PW. (Nov.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"A gorgeous, plangent work: a cri de coeur for the cranes' protection and a testament to Matthiessen's enduring high caliber as writer and world traveler . . . [He] projects an undiminished passion for the specific creature, the distinct landscape, the cultural oddity, the startling word. In "The Birds of Heaven", he conveys that feeling through serendipitous prose as elegant as the stately birds that inspire him."--"The New York Times Book Review"

"[Matthiessen's] body of work in the last four decades is among the most impressive by any living American writer . . . As always, he has an impeccable eye . . . an informed understanding of the broad cultural, historical, and political context of the places and people he encounters, and an extraordinary talent for serendipitous adventure." --"Los Angeles Times"

"A gorgeous, plangent work: a cri de coeur for the cranes' protection and a testament to Matthiessen's enduring high caliber as writer and world traveler . . . [He] projects an undiminished passion for the specific creature, the distinct landscape, the cultural oddity, the startling word. In "The Birds of Heaven", he conveys that feeling through serendipitous prose as elegant as the stately birds that inspire him."-"The New York Times Book Review"
"[Matthiessen's] body of work in the last four decades is among the most impressive by any living American writer . . . As always, he has an impeccable eye . . . an informed understanding of the broad cultural, historical, and political context of the places and people he encounters, and an extraordinary talent for serendipitous adventure." -"Los Angeles Times"

" A gorgeous, plangent work: a cri de coeur for the cranes' protection and a testament to Matthiessen' s enduring high caliber as writer and world traveler . . . [He] projects an undiminished passion for the specific creature, the distinct landscape, the cultural oddity, the startling word. In "The Birds of Heaven," he conveys that feeling through serendipitous prose as elegant as the stately birds that inspire him." -- "The New York Times Book Review"
" [Matthiessen' s] body of work in the last four decades is among the most impressive by any living American writer . . . As always, he has an impeccable eye . . . an informed understanding of the broad cultural, historical, and political context of the places and people he encounters, and an extraordinary talent for serendipitous adventure." -- "Los Angeles Times"