Water's Edge: Writing on Water

Water's Edge is an anthology of creative nonfiction, poetry, and visual art that explores and celebrates water, reflecting on its disturbances and pollution. The authors circulate moments of apprehension, intimation, and felt experience, each carrying reports concerning a substance upon which all living organisms depend.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Water, a vital and complex element, holds a profound significance in our lives. It is a daily presence, permeating every aspect of our environment. At the same time, it is both abundant and scarce, a delicate balance that requires our utmost care and attention. The authors of Waters Edge have delved into the depths of this subject, exploring the diverse manifestations of water and our relationship with it.

Born from a colloquium organized by the editors at the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, this anthology brings together a diverse group of writers and artists from six countries, representing various fields of scholarship and practice. Artists, biologists, geologists, poets, ecocritics, actors, and anthropologists contribute their unique perspectives to the exploration of water.

Through their contributions, the authors invite us to celebrate water's beauty and complexity while also acknowledging its disturbances and pollution. They playfully push the boundaries of literary forms, challenging our perceptions and inspiring us to reimagine our relationship with this precious resource.

In the pages of Waters Edge, water transitions from a mere backdrop to a central subject. Ashley Dawson delves into the impact of industrial farming on local ecosystems and economies, raising important questions about sustainability and the delicate balance of nature. Painter Kulvinder Kaur Dhew captures the mesmerizing brilliance and multifaceted reflections of water through a series of charcoal pieces that seamlessly interweave throughout the collection. Poet Arthur Sze offers a poignant reflection on the responsibility involved in the careful management of irrigation ditches in New Mexico, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human actions and the natural world.

Rather than presenting a singular, overwhelming argument, the authors of Waters Edge offer moments of apprehension, intimation, and felt experience. They resemble tributaries, each carrying their own distinctive style and delivering urgent and often intimate reports concerning the substance upon which all living organisms depend.

Contributions by Coral Bracho, Akiko Busch, Ashley Dawson, Kulvinder Kaur Dhew, Brenda Hillman, Maya Khosla, Will McGrath, José-Luis Moctezuma, Zoe Nyssa, Ailsa Piper, Elizabeth Rush, Cole Swensen, A. highlight the diverse voices and artistic expressions that contribute to our understanding of water. These writers and artists offer a rich tapestry of perspectives, from the ecological to the cultural, and from the personal to the collective.

Waters Edge serves as a reminder of our profound connection to water and the urgent need to protect and steward this vital resource. It encourages us to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our natural environment, to recognize the impact of our actions on water, and to work towards a sustainable future where water is cherished, preserved, and shared by all.

In conclusion, Waters Edge is a captivating anthology that invites us to explore the depths of water and our relationship with it. Through a diverse range of literary and artistic expressions, the authors offer us a glimpse into the complexities and wonders of this precious resource. As we navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by water, let us be inspired by the contributions of these talented individuals and work together to create a future where water is a source of life, beauty, and resilience for generations to come.

Weight: 230g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780810145795