Naturalist: A Graphic Adaptation

"Poised to inspire a new generation of naturalists." - Publishers Weekly

A vibrant graphic adaptation of the classic science memoir

Regarded as one of the world's preeminent biologists, Edward O. Wilson spent his boyhood exploring the forests and swamps of south Alabama and the Florida panhandle, collecting snakes, butterflies, and ants--the latter to become his lifelong specialty. His memoir Naturalist, called "one of the finest scientific memoirs ever written" by the Los Angeles Times, is an inspiring account of Wilson's growth as a scientist and the evolution of the fields he helped define. This graphic edition, adapted by New York Times bestselling comics writer Jim Ottaviani and illustrated by C.M.Butzer, brings Wilson's childhood and celebrated career to life through dynamic full-color illustrations and Wilson's own lyric writing.

In this adaptation of Naturalist, vivid illustrations draw readers in to Wilson's lifelong quest to explore and protect the natural world. His success began not with an elite education but an insatiable curiosity about Earth's wild creatures, and this new edition of Naturalist makes Wilson's work accessible for anyone who shares his passion. On every page, striking art adds immediacy and highlights the warmth and sense of humor that sets Wilson's writing apart.

Naturalist was written as an invitation--a reminder that curiosity is vital and scientific exploration is open to all of us. Each dynamic frame of this graphic adaptation deepens Wilson's message, renewing his call to discover and celebrate the little things of the world.

Author: Edward O. Wilson, Jim Ottaviani
Publisher: Island Press
Published: 11/10/2020
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.50lbs
Size: 9.10h x 7.20w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9781610919586


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/14/2020
Booklist 11/01/2020 pg. 42

About the Author
Edward O. Wilson is the author of more than twenty books, including The Ants and On Human Nature, both of which were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. He is currently Faculty Emeritus in the Museum of Comparative Zoology and Pellegrino University Professor, Emeritus at Harvard University.

Jim Ottaviani has written a dozen graphic novels about scientists. His most recent books are Hawking, The Imitation Game (a biography of Alan Turing), Primates (about Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas) and Feynman, a book about the Nobel-prize winning physicist, bongo-playing artist, and raconteur Richard Feynman. His books are New York Times bestsellers, have been translated into over a dozen languages, and have received praise from publications ranging from Nature and Physics World to Entertainment Weekly and Variety. Jim lives in Michigan and comes to comics via careers in nuclear engineering and librarianship.

C.M.Butzer is an illustrator, printmaker, and cartoonist. His work has appeared in numerous books, publications, and textiles. In 2009, he wrote and drew Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel for HarperCollins. Butzer is also a storyboard and concept artist whose clients have included Facebook, Google, and Microsoft. After 13 years of residing in Brooklyn, he and his wife moved to Hilo, Hawaii, where he does not miss winter.