The Quickening: Creation and Community at the Ends of the Earth

The Quickening is a 2023 NPR Best Book of 2023, a Shelf Awareness Best Nonfiction Book of 2023, an August 2023 Indie Next Pick, a Vogue Most Anticipated Book of 2023, a WBUR Summer Reading Recommendation, and a Next Big Idea Club s August 2023 Must-Read Book. It is an astonishing, vital book about Antarctica, climate change, and motherhood by Elizabeth Rush, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. The book documents the voyage of the Nathaniel B. Palmer to Thwaites Glacier in 2019, offering the sublime and the everyday moments of the expedition. It also takes readers on a personal journey around a more intimate question: What does it mean to bring a child into the world at this time of radical change? The book emerges as a new kind of Antarctica story, preoccupied with imagining a better future and understanding the language of a continent where humans have only been present for two centuries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2023
Publisher: Milkweed Editions

The Quickening is a remarkable and essential book that delves into the captivating realms of Antarctica, climate change, and motherhood, written by the acclaimed author of Rising, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. In 2019, a remarkable expedition embarked on board the Nathaniel B. Palmer, comprising fifty-seven scientists and crew, with a singular destination: Thwaites Glacier. Their mission: to explore this enigmatic and previously untouched region, believed to be both rapidly deteriorating and possessing the potential to significantly contribute to global sea-level rise.

Through the captivating narrative of The Quickening, Elizabeth Rush takes readers on an immersive journey, showcasing the awe-inspiring wonders of witnessing an iceberg for the first time, the majestic waves of the Drake Passage, and the unique contours of Thwaites. Alongside these breathtaking moments, she delves into the everyday realities of this groundbreaking expedition, encompassing the challenges and complexities of caring for and safeguarding human life in an inhospitable environment. Rush intricately weaves personal anecdotes with the broader narrative, exploring the profound question of what it means to bring a child into the world amidst a period of radical change.

What emerges from this profound exploration is a fresh perspective on Antarctica, one that focuses less on mere flag planting and more on the collective and transformative endeavor of envisioning a better future. Rush delves into the complexities of understanding the language of a continent that humans have only inhabited for two centuries, drawing upon the insights and contributions of women, who were historically excluded from voyages until recent decades, as well as crew members of color, whose labor has often been overlooked.

The Quickening is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of acknowledging the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that arise in our rapidly changing world. It is a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the planet we inhabit and the critical role we play in shaping its future. By exploring the profound connections between Antarctica, climate change, and motherhood, Rush offers a thought-provoking and inspiring perspective that challenges us to think beyond our own experiences and embrace the collective responsibility for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Weight: 660g
Dimension: 150 x 224 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781571313966