Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
Language: English
Published by Beacon Press, 2007
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Gulf Coast Books, Cypress, TX, U.S.A.Gulf Coast Books
AbeBooks seller since June 27, 2017
Condition: Used - Good
£ 3.87
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSeller Inventory # 0807085782-3-37669744
- Title
- Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
- Author
- Gessner, David
- Publisher
- Beacon Press
- Publication year
- 2007
- Condition
- Good
- Binding
- hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0807085782
- ISBN 13
- 9780807085783
- Item weight
- 18 ounces
- Dimensions
- 5x1x8
One September, after writing about ospreys on Cape Cod for years, David Gessner impulsively decided to follow the birds on their annual migration. Each fall these graceful raptors, with wingspans of up to six feet, cruise over the eastern United States, then soar over Cuba and winter in South America, returning north with the spring. In 2004, Gessner went along for the ride, traveling illegally into the mountains of Cuba and deep into Venezuela as he competed with the crew of a BBC documentary to be the first to follow the full migration, trailing the birds by car, boat, foot, and plane. He called his favorite osprey Fidel.
Soaring with Fidel is about the exhilaration of migration, but it is also a deeper meditation on the nature of human happiness. In describing the thrill of travel, the antics of these swashbuckling birds, and the cast of characters he meets (and drinks with) along the wayincluding scientists, students, tour guides, and an online group of birdersGessner gives us a profound lesson in the importance of following what you love.
"From the tidal marshes of Cape Cod to jungle lakes in Venezuela, David Gessner lets nothingnot language barriers, not empty pockets, not steely-eyed Cuban bureaucrats or American embargoesstop him from following the migration of the osprey. Just reckless enough to be lucky, Gessner wins over everyone he meets. Soaring with Fidel has wings." Scott Weidensaul, author of Living on the Wind
Because of its robust passion and focus, Soaring with Fidel would have probably been a favorite of Teddy Roosevelts. Its Gessners finest book, unpredictable in the best way, and funny, too; an adventure book and much morea book of contact, written by a writer who quickly becomes an audible and visible presence. Soaring with Fidel demonstrates that you can pick up one thing and find the rest of the world hitched to it. If youve experienced a passion that you failed to followor that you did followthen this is your book. Clyde Edgerton, author of Solo
Exhilarating, hilarious, tender, this is David Gessner at his best. Call it whatever you wantosprey lust, wanderlust, migratory unrestbut when Gessner decides to follow the birds he loves from Cape Cod to Cuba to Venezuela and back north, over thousands of miles of mountain, swamp, and sea, we all benefit. James Campbell, author of The Final Frontiersman
Equal doses of Jack Kerouac and Roger Tory Peterson promise to enshrine Soaring with Fidel in the pantheon of great travel writing and natural history. Keith L. Bildstein, author of Migrating Raptors of the World
Gessners account is filled with nitty-gritty details about the days and nights of an itinerant birder and beautifully detailed descriptions of ospreys in action. When actual observations were not possible, he imagined what the ospreys were doing and writes intelligently A grand adventure, not just for birders and nature lovers. Kirkus, review in the January 15th issue
"Soaring with Fidel is a grand and cheering journey on the wings of one of nature's most sociable predators. It's impossible to watch an osprey hovering above a crystal calm bay and not envy the great bird's freedom. Now, thanks to David Gessner, we are invited to follow." Carl Hiaasen, author of Nature Girl
Gessners travels are filled with small delights. He has a great gift for conveying reverence without sanctimony, and even at his most sardonic and self-deprecating, his sense of wonder at the osprey never falters. As he stands on a rock above Cubas Sierra Maestra, watching ospreys rocket past, we wish we could be up there beside him, binoculars in one hand, a cold beer in the other. OnEarth
An engaging, lyrical guide to osprey migration, Cuba, and a common humanity. On his impulsive journey, Gessner meets other devotees off this magnificent raptor, and experiences the thrill of following what he loves. Orion Magazine
Gessner seldom sets out deliberately to be funny, as Bill Bryson does, but his deadpan, self-deprecating humor ("I had vast experience in not seeing birds") makes him an ideal traveling companion and guide. Soaring With Fidel lets you hover for a while in the thermals of fine language, seeing the same old world from a fresh and invigorating altitude. Wilmington (NC) Morning Star News
This probing investigation of the migratory flight of the osprey embraced several unexpectedly, exciting adventures . . . I found Gessners book a most interesting read. NH Union Leader
He gives an occasional nod to Henry David Thoreau, perhaps to assure us that, yep, hes read the masters, but his stylewell, imagine Hunter Tompson gone birding, pen in hand. Hartford Courant
David Gessner is the award-winning auuthor of several books, including Return of the Osprey and The Prophet of DDDDDry Hill (Beacon / 8568-5 / $19.95 hc). He is editor of the literary journal Ecotone and assistant professor of creative writing at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Each summer, Gessner migrates north to Cape Cod.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Gulf Coast Books
Cypress, TX, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since June 27, 2017
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 4 to 8 business days | 2 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 0.75 |
Payment methods
Specialty
all genres, all categoriesSeller's business information
Gulf Coast Books, LLC
3092 LAKEVIEW RD
Memphis, TN U.S.A. 38116
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Gulf Coast Books, Houston, Texas, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.