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The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal Vicki Croke Here is the astonishing true story of Ruth Harkness, the Manhattan bohemian socialite who, against all but impossible odds, trekked to Tibet in 1936 to capture the most mysterious animal of the day: a bear that had for countless centuries lived in secret in the labyrinth of lonely cold mountains. In The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke gives us the remarkable account of Ruth Harkness and her extraordinary journey, and restores Harkness to her rightful place along with Sacajawea, Nellie Bly, and Amelia Earhart as one of the great woman adventurers of all time.
Ruth was the toast of 1930s New York, a dress designer newly married to a wealthy adventurer, Bill Harkness. Just weeks after their wedding, however, Bill decamped for China in hopes of becoming the first Westerner to capture a giant panda–an expedition on which many had embarked and failed miserably. Bill was also to fail in his quest, dying horribly alone in China and leaving his widow heartbroken and adrift. And so Ruth made the fateful decision to adopt her husband’s dream as her own and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
It was not easy. Indeed, everything was against Ruth Harkness. In decadent Shanghai, the exclusive fraternity of white male explorers patronized her, scorned her, and joked about her softness, her lack of experience and money. But Ruth ignored them, organizing, outfitting, and leading a bare-bones campaign into the majestic but treacherous hinterlands where China borders Tibet. As her partner she chose Quentin Young, a twenty-two-year-old Chinese explorer as unconventional as she was, who would join her in a romance as torrid as it was taboo.
Traveling across some of the toughest terrain in the world–nearly impenetrable bamboo forests, slick and perilous mountain slopes, and boulder-strewn passages–the team raced against a traitorous rival, and was constantly threatened by hordes of bandits and hostile natives. The voyage took months to complete and cost Ruth everything she had. But when, almost miraculously, she returned from her journey with a baby panda named Su Lin in her arms, the story became an international sensation and made the front pages of newspapers around the world. No animal in history had gotten such attention. And Ruth Harkness became a hero.
Drawing extensively on American and Chinese sources, including diaries, scores of interviews, and previously unseen intimate letters from Ruth Harkness, Vicki Constantine Croke has fashioned a captivating and richly textured narrative about a woman ahead of her time. Part Myrna Loy, part Jane Goodall, by turns wisecracking and poetic, practical and spiritual, Ruth Harkness is a trailblazing figure. And her story makes for an unforgettable, deeply moving adventure.
From the Hardcover edition. |
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Zoo Animals A - Z (A to Z Nature Photo Books) Deborah Carney Learn about zoo animals in this full color series of animal photo books. All animals are identified so you can tell what you are looking at. Great books to start conversations with kids about animals, and a good resource for adults that want to know what it was they saw at the zoo.
Full color photographs of animals in zoo by professional photographers Deborah Carney and Vinny O'Hare. Viewed best on color Kindles and color Kindle apps.
Animals included in this book are: ADDAX AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ASIAN ELEPHANT AFRICAN WILD DOG AMERICAN BISON ARABIAN ORYX BABIRUSA BLACK AND WHITE COLOBUS GRIZZLY BEAR BONGO CAMELS CABYBARA WHITE-NOSED COATI CENTRAL CHINESE GORAL DWARF MONGOOSE EBONY LANGUR GELADA BABOONS MALAYAN SUN BEAR MHORR GAZELLE NYALA ANTELOPE
We have full color photos of all the animals in this book, so assured that the content is totally accurate. Our series will continue with several other similarly formated book that cover zoo animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians but many books about birds and animals in the wild. |
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The Bears of Blue River Charles Major "The Bears of Blue River," written by Charles Major, takes place in 19th century rural Indiana. "Little Balser," the main character in the book, was a very brave young man who had many exciting (and sometimes frightening) encounters with bears and other wildlife. A fearless hunter, Little Balser dreamed of the day he would have his own gun. As "The Bears of Blue River" describes, his dream did eventually come true. This book may not be considered politically correct by some because Little Balser does shoot bears. It is a correct (though quite possibly exaggerated) description of what life was like in those days, however. "The Bears of Blue River" is of particular interest to people of Shelbyville, Indiana. The north end of the town circle in Shelbyville features a statue of Little Balser holding up the two bear cubs that he captured and raised. Every summer Shelbyville, Indiana holds a celebration honoring "The Bears of Blue River." The celebration consists of a parade and entertainment to remember Shelbyville, Indiana and how it once was in the past. In addition to the wonderful history involved, "The Bears of Blue River" will keep those who love nature and tales of early pioneer life on the edge of their seats as they read the exciting experiences of "Little Balser." |
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The Grizzly Maze: Timothy Treadwell's Fatal Obsession with Alaskan Bears Nick Jans With a new introduction on Werner Herzog’s film entitled The Grizzly Man Timothy Treadwell, self-styled "bear whisperer" dared to live among the grizzlies, seeking to overturn the perception of them as dangerously aggressive animals. When he and his girlfriend were mauled in October 2003, it created a media sensation. In The Grizzly Maze, Nick Jans, a seasoned outdoor writer with a quarter century of experience writing about Alaska and bears, traces Treadwell’s rise from unknown waiter in California to celebrity, providing a moving portrait of the man whose controversial ideas and behavior earned him the scorn of hunters, the adoration of animal lovers and the skepticism of naturalists. |
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The Well Cat Book: The Classic Comprehensive Handbook of Cat Care Terri Dvm Mcginnis Featuring sections on daily care, preventive medicine, and training, The Well Cat Book teaches cat owners how to detect signs of illness, diagnose problems, and begin home treatment--thereby avoiding expensive and often unnecessary trips to the vet. Includes over 100 illustrations and step-by-step instructions.
From the Trade Paperback edition. |