This author explores the beauty and power of narrative through a lifelong passion for storytelling and sentence-making. His work is rooted in a deep love for the craft that has driven him since the inception of his career. He crafts engaging prose with a distinctive style, reflecting an unyielding dedication to mastering the art of writing. His writing is a testament to the potency of words and their ability to captivate readers.
Susan Orlean's collection of profiles ranges from the well-known to the unknown and the formerly known. Orlean meets with Cristina Sanchez, Spain's first fully-qualified female matador, Silly Billy, New York's most successful children's clown, an African king who is a New York taxi-driver, and a champion show dog called Biff, who from a certain angle looks like President Clinton. Orlean's eye for the fascinatingly bizarre and her wonderfully witty way with language make her take on the world utterly original and unique.
The bestselling author of Rin Tin Tin and The Orchid Thief reopens the
unsolved mystery of one of the most catastrophic library fires in history and
delivers a dazzling love letter to a beloved institution - our libraries.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER “Magnificent.” — The New York Times * “Beguiling, observant, and howlingly funny.” — San Francisco Chronicle * “Spectacular.” — Star Tribune (Minneapolis) * “Full of astonishments.” — The Boston Globe
Susan Orlean, a celebrated New Yorker staff writer and author of the bestseller The Library Book, compiles a lifetime of reflections and profiles about animals. She explores the intricate relationships between humans and animals, a topic that has fascinated thinkers throughout history. Since her childhood, when she created a book about a near-sighted pigeon, Orlean has been captivated by stories of coexistence with animals.
In her examination, she delves into various creatures, from cherished pets to livestock, and even the wild animals that share our world. Orlean shares her experiences, such as raising chickens in her backyard and encountering a woman in New Jersey with twenty-three pet tigers, whose existence was unknown until one escaped. She also recounts the tale of a famous whale in Iceland and hardworking donkeys in Morocco finding solace at a clinic.
Through delightful narratives enriched by her elegant prose and thorough research, Orlean celebrates the profound connections that enhance our lives, revealing the beauty of cross-species relationships.
