United States
£ GBP
In 1993 geologist Pilkey met artist Fraser and discovered their shared passion for barrier islands, which protect much of the world's coastline from the sea, are usually in motion, and are threatened by development and climate change. This beautiful, scientifically rigorous book is the result of their subsequent collaboration.
List of IllustrationsPrefacePrologue1. Dennis Roars Ashore: A Beneficial Catastrophe2. The Global Picture3. The American Barrier Island Scene: Hot Dogs and Drumsticks4. Barrier Islands and Human Realities: Awash in Politics5. Delta Barrier Islands: That Sinking Feeling6. Colombia's Pacific Islands: A Subsiding Tropical Paradise7. The Carbonate Islands: Tropical Permafrost8. Lagoon Barriers: The Quiet Ones9. The Icelandic Islands: Of Fire and Ice10. The Arctic Islands: The Cold and Dark Ones11. False Islands: Things Aren't What They Seem to Be12. Requiem for Some FriendsArtist's NotesGlossary of TermsReferences CitedAppendixTable 1. Global Barrier IslandsTable 2. Delta Barrier IslandsTable 3. Arctic Barrier IslandsTable 4. Endangered Species
Orrin H. Pilkey is James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of Geology and director of the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Duke University. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Francis Shepard Award for Excellence in Marine Geology, and the author or editor of many books, including The Beaches Are Moving: The Drowning of America's Shoreline, Living by the Rules of the Sea, and The Corps and the Shore.Mary Edna Fraser is a renowned artist specializing in the production of large-scale batiks, many based on aerial photographs. Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Duke University Museum of Art, the National Science Foundation, and the National Academy of Sciences.
Pilkey has written a highly engaging and intelligent book on the fragile beauty of the barrier islands. -- Library Journal "Delicate renderings of the islands by artist Mary Edna Fraser look like vivid aerial-view paintings but are actually batik prints of the coasts, counterbalancing Pilkey's careful study of the 'restless ribbons of sand.'" -- New Yorker "It's a wonderful tour, richly illustrated with colour and black and white photos. Mary Edna Fraser's silk batiks deserve special mention. They capture the sense of the islands remarkably well, giving us a keen birdseye view of the land." -- New Scientist "The fragility of those coastal areas is explored in Orrin Pilkey's A Celebration of the World's Barrier Islands which takes readers on an illustrated jaunt to many of the barrier islands worldwide." -- Ann Lloyd Merriman, Richmond Times-Dispatch "[Pilkey] uses lively, engaging language to explain the origin, the long-term evolution, and the day-to-day processes that determine the distribution and morphological splendor of barrier islands... Original illustrations are magnificent and complement the elegance of the book." -- Choice "This book serves as a fine introduction to the world's diverse barrier islands, yet provides an enormous wealth of information." -- Southeastern Naturalist "The global scope of this book is impressive... this attractive book will succeed in stimulating other scientists to write about geomorphological features for the general public." -- Andrew Goudie, Times Higher Education Supplement "This is an attractive and thoughtful book...Highly recommended to all whose interests include coastal environments." -- Harold D. Palmer, Oceanography "A book that not only is intellectually stimulating but aesthetically pleasing...Pilkey's book is eye opening and should be required reading." -- Mary Ellen Riddle, Coast "Pilkey's and Fraser's collaboration produces an emotional response to the beauty of our planet, one which proves that science and art can together deepen understanding." -- Linda Kaun, Fiberarts Magazine "If there is one book poised to have a positive impact on the future of the world's disappearing barrier islands, this is it." -- Laura J. Moore, Palaois "This is an interesting and yet unusual book... It is a welcome addition." -- Derek J. McGlashan, Geomorphology
