Green History: A Reader in Environmental Literature, Philosophy and Politics

Green History traces the development of ecological writing through history and forms a broad critical review of green ideas and movements reinforcing the importance of environmental concern and action in our own time. Animal rights, ecology as science, feminism, green fascism/socialism/anarchism, land reform, peaceful protest, industrialization, ancient ecology, evolution, grassroots activism, philosophical holism, recycling, Taoism, demographics, utopias, sustainability, spiritualism ...all these issues and many more are discussed. Authors include Alice Walker on massacre in the City of Brotherly Love, Aldous Huxley on progress, Lewis Mumford on the organic outlook, Engels on natural dialectics, Thoreau on the fontier life, the Shelleys on vegetarianism and playing God, Bacon on the New Atlantis, Hildegard of Bingen on green vigour, the unknown writer of the Bodhisattva and the Hungry Tigress and Plato on soil erosion. Each article is set within its historical and thematic context. A full introduction and a guide to further reading are also provided.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1 Ancient wisdom 2 Ecology and early urban civilization 3 The origins of environmental danger 4 Theories of breakdown 5 Putting the Earth first 6 Gaia 7 Philosophical holism 8 The web of life 9 Against growth 10 Sustainable development 11 The Frankenstein factor 12 Peaceful protest 13 The city and the country 14 Eco-feminism 15 Spiritual awakenings 16 Literary roots 17 Green revolutionaries 18 Green politics 19 Utopia or else!

Review :
'Where Green History really scores is the way in which Derek Wall binds together that would otherwise be interesting but frustratingly disconnected literary snippets. His chapter introductions are extremely helpful in linking the separate parts to what emerges as the `green whole'.' - Jonathon Porritt, BBC Wildlife Magazine 'Derek Wall has assembled some compelling writing to underline how environmental concerns are as old as civilisation itself ... He teases out the beginnings of strands now present in current debate. This is a timely book.' - Tribune 'This book needed writing. It kills off the flip political assumption that environmental concern has no past. We must be grateful to Mr Wall for steering a path through what turns out to be a vast literature - for what is effectively the first time.' - The Spectator 'If you're after a wider and deeper understanding of the green movement and its history, this is for you. - The Herald, Glasgow 'This book contains much that is fascinating and thought-provoking even to someone who thinks they are well-acquainted with the field, and is likely to start more trains of thought than slow them. Surely the intention of all concerned. Take a dip yourself!.' - Venue 'Derek Wall illustrates the history of the environmental debate in this excellent anthology of writings ranging from Sappho and St Augustine to Sismondi and Schumacher.' - The Ecologist