Personhood

Personhood explores the problem between humans and nonhuman relatives, highlighting the derangement of narratives and lack of situational awareness. Thalia Field's essayistic investigations invite us on a humorous and heartbroken journey into how people attempt to control the fragile complexities of a shared planet, using the lived experiences of animals and other historical actors to provide unique literary-ecological responses to injustice and delusions of special status.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2021
Publisher: New Directions Publishing Corporation

Personhood delves into the intricate and often perplexing relationship between humans and our nonhuman relatives, shedding light on the distortions in our narratives and the resulting lack of situational awareness. Building upon her previous collection, Bird Lovers, Backyard, Thalia Field's essayistic investigations take readers on a humorous and poignant journey into how humans attempt to navigate the delicate complexities of our shared planet. Through the lens of animals and other historical actors, Field offers unique literary-ecological responses to the challenges of injustice and our illusions of special status.

Whether exploring the plight of refugee parrots, the complexities of indentured elephants, the pervasive influence of the pathetic fallacy, or the dizzying absurdity of human involvement in the invasive species crisis, Personhood offers a thought-provoking exploration of our complex relationship with the natural world. By challenging our assumptions and illuminating the ways in which our narratives shape our understanding of the world, Field encourages us to cultivate a more nuanced and empathetic perspective on our interactions with nonhuman beings.

Through her captivating prose and insightful analysis, Personhood offers a valuable contribution to the field of environmental literature. It reminds us of the importance of recognizing the inherent worth and agency of all living beings and the urgent need to address the injustices and delusions that perpetuate our exploitation and destruction of the natural world. As we navigate the challenges of our time, this book serves as a call to action, urging us to embrace a more compassionate and sustainable approach to our relationship with the planet and its inhabitants.

Weight: 186g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780811229739