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Books by RD Lawrence |
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Field biologist, naturalist
and storyteller RD Lawrence wrote more than 30 books during more than
50 years observing nature in Canada’s wilderness.
Wildlife in Canada, 1966
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True to his
belief that natural history should be easy to understand and
non-clinical, RD Lawrence's first book marked (in the words of the
publisher) a "new approach in natural history..." New is
the way Lawrence tells us about each animal's daily routines from
their point of view. New also are the beautiful descriptions of
the wilderness habitats the animals live in, for as Lawrence
writes: "to know the animals one must also know the land".
It is this fusion of knowledge and insight, told with such deep
affection, that would separate Lawrence from other nature
writers, and which creates a page-turner of a book. |
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The Place in the Forest, 1967
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When RD Lawrence and
Joan, his wife, buy a 350-acre farm in Ontario (which they call
"The Place") they are quickly made to feel at home by the many
animals already living on the property. The human couple are
fascinated by the behaviours of the wolves, the courting rituals
of wild ducks, the friendly mischief of racoons, among other
animal insights.
Now Re-Released |
ISBN13: 9781896219295
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Where the Water Lilies Grow, 1968
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In this sequel to The
Place in the Forest, RD Lawrence describes what he and Joan
learned from the many animal species that ventured to the lilied
lake near their home in the back woods of Canada. Of one such
lesson he writes: "The law here is clear. There are those who kill
and those who are killed; it is the code of the wilds, upset this
night by the meddling of a human."
Now Re-Released |
ISBN13: 9781896219523
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The Poison Makers, 1969
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In a book ahead of its
time, and highly relevant today, RD tells us in blunt language
that we consumers are as much poison makers as the industries that
produce and use synthetic chemicals. Pollution, he says, is just
one aspect of man’s seemingly determined efforts to destroy
himself and all other life. The final chapter is a strong call to
action. |
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Cry Wild, 1970
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RD
Lawrence’s first novel, Cry Wild is the remarkable
saga of a family of timber wolves that roam the untamed wilderness of
North America’s forestland. Seen through the eyes of Silverfeet as the
young pup grows to maturity, the wolf family endures the harsh
privations of winter, the attacks of predator animals and the roaring
inferno of forest fire that brings about Silverfeet’s fateful
encounter with man. Cry Wild evokes a genuine love for all
living creatures and clearly proclaims that one of them, the wolf, is
more sinned against than sinner.
Read Extract » |
ISBN: 1558176365
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Maple Syrup, 1971
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After
purchasing a 350-acre farm in Ontario, RD Lawrence learns from the
previous owner, a Mr. Pierce, about the sugar bush, tapping, the
sap run, and making syrup, sugar and taffy. Lawrence describes in
detail how a sugar bush was managed at this time (including
burning old tires to heat the evaporator!). The book includes
black and white photos of maple syrup making (on brown paper) as
well as 14 recipes!
Thanks to Patricia Pilon of Cambridge Libraries and Galleries for
this description. |
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Wildlife in North America: Mammals, 1974
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In a vividly
written book that belies its dry title, RD Lawrence draws the
reader into the lives of the many mammals he encountered and
observed along North America's game trails - opposum, mole, bear,
coyote, moose, musk-ox among others. By Lawrence's intimate
knowledge and affectionate telling, the reader is led to a deeper
understanding of the wilderness and its inhabitants. Includes 65
black and white photographs. |
ISBN: 0718113543
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Wildlife in North America: Birds, 1974
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Intended to complement
standard guidebooks, Birds is filled with RD Lawrence's personal
anecdotes of the characters and habits of commonly-seen North
American birds, including an encounter with 38 bald eagles. More
than 80 black and white photos by leading wildlife photographers
augment his lively, readable prose. |
ISBN: 0718113551
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Paddy, 1977
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While
canoeing in the wilds of Ontario, RD Lawrence comes across a small
bundle of fur about to be attacked by a swooping hawk. The bundle
turns out to be a tiny frightened beaver kit, the size of his
hand. In this true story of nurture and love, instinct and
survival, RD Lawrence and ‘Paddy’ form a unique relationship
before the beaver is drawn toward the lake and his own kind. |
ISBN: 0345365615
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Discover Ste. Marie, 1978
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Contact Us if you have this book and can send us a scanned
image of the cover and/or a short description. |
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The North Runner, 1979
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In The North Runner,
RD Lawrence tells the story he experienced in the British Columbia
wilderness with Yukon, a half wolf, half-Alaskan malamute, and the
building of trust between man and dog. A nature classic.
Now Re-Released |
ISBN13: 9781896219660
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Secret Go the Wolves, 1980
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The new born wolf cubs
were wrapped in their mother's gory hide when RD Lawrence found
them stowed in the Cree Indian's canoe. Then began an amazing
adventure for Lawrence, wife Joan, and their malamute dog Tundra,
as they raised the wolves in secret until their return to the
wild. |
ISBN: 0792701917
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The Study of Life: A Naturalist’s View, 1980
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RD Lawrence
begins his 40-page essay for the Myrin Institute with a simple question asked of him by an
Australian boy; "What is Life?" While believing no one can define
Life, Lawrence partially answers, "you can characterise it, and
you can give hints about how to discover certain of its
attributes". The best approach is to "walk through the world of
Life, [and] it will reach out and touch us". The task of a biology
education, he concludes, is not to study life by dissecting
animals, but to teach youth "the marvels of nature unfolding all
around us". |
ISBN: 091309837X
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The Zoo That Never Was, 1981
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A
heart-warming story of animal psychology, The Zoo That
Never Was describes the adventures of the wild menagerie when RD
Lawrence and his wife Joan became keepers of orphaned and abandoned
animals, including bear, otters, skunk, raccoons, lynx, Canada geese,
ducks, turtles, porcupines and more. |
ISBN: 0030568110
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Voyage of the Stella, 1982
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In
1972, following the death of his beloved wife Joan, RD Lawrence
seeks solace exploring 1600 miles of coastline and waters off the
North Pacific’s Inside Passage. From a small cruiser he names the
Stella Maris, he encounters shark, whales, dolphins and Orcas
among other marine life. The adventure brings emotional healing and
rejuvenation, and an unforgettable story of Canada’s unforgiving ocean
environment. |
ISBN: 0006377068
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The Ghost Walker, 1983
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During three seasons in
British Columbia’s Selkirk Mountains, RD Lawrence observed (and
was observed by) a puma in its remote natural habitat. His
endearing story describes the special relationship between man and
wild animal, and of his own survival alone in a perilous and
unforgiving wilderness. But foremost, The Ghost Walker is a
story of a patient and dedicated pursuit to understand the elusive
puma and its place in the environment. |
ISBN: 0893408867
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The Ghost Walker, 2009
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2009 Re-Launch
edition published by Sharon Lawrence.
Buy this book » |
ISBN: 978-0-9738380-0-8
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Canada’s National Parks, 1983
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RD Lawrence visited
most of Canada's national parks during his life, writing of their
unique qualities with sure knowledge and a deep appreciation. His text and the
magnificent photographs are a compelling invitation to enjoy and
marvel in Canada's natural heritage. |
ISBN: 0002174588
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The Shark, 1985
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Believing that biologists
must show the relationships of sharks with other marine animals to
truly understand them, RD Lawrence takes us into his own world of
close personal encounters with "the most physically perfect of all
life forms." The result is a scientific study that reads like a
fast-paced novel. |
ISBN: 1881527573
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In Praise of Wolves, 1986
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Can
wolves teach us humans valuable lessons about ourselves? RD
Lawrence believes they can, and that wolves provide a much closer
model of human behavior than do primates. Told through anecdotes
and personal observations of wolves in the wild and in captivity,
he demolishes old myths about wolf aggression, and upholds the
wolf and the wolfpack as the ultimate stabilizer of
nature demanding our respect. |
ISBN: 0345418026
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Trans-Canada Country, 1986
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Contact Us if you have this book and can send us a short description. |
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The Natural History of Canada, 1988
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This
conducted tour of Canada informs and entertains general readers,
conservationists and students hungry for a comprehensive guide to
our natural world. Illustrated with stunning photography, the
chapters cover the effects of the ice age, the boreal forests,
prairie flatlands, mountain wilderness and oceanographic
environments.
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ISBN: 1550130641
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The Natural
History of Canada
Revised by Michal Polak, 2005
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Updated and
revised edition - available in Canada from Key Porter Books. The
editor is Canadian field biologist Dr. Michal Polak, a student of
RD Lawrence and assistant professor at the University of
Cincinnati. |
ISBN: 1552636542
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For the Love of Mike
(Pour L'Amour de Mike), 1989
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A children's
novel that surely epitomizes RD Lawrence's childhood ideal, For
the Love of Mike describes the adventures of a young boy, Bob, an
orphaned bear cub, Mike, and Yukon the malamute dog. Together the
three forge a bond that propels them from one adventure to another
as they encounter bear, lynx and other animals on their frequent
wilderness romps. In one delightful episode, Bob succeeds in
denning Mike for the winter, but by the spring realizes both the
heartbreak and the need to give up the growing bear to the
beckoning wild. Never published in English, the novel is available
only in French as Pour L'Amour de Mike. |
ISBN: 221101593X
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Wolves, 1990
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Written for young readers
as part of the Sierra Club Wildlife Library series, Wolves
reveals this highly intelligent but greatly misunderstood animal
as it is rarely seen - at play, on the hunt and in tender family
relationships. RD Lawrence also edited Seals, Elephants,
Apes, Eagles, Bears, and Snakes,
originally published by Key Porter Books Natural History Series. |
ISBN: 0316516775
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The White Puma, 1990
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RD
Lawrence’s moving novel about a predator animal that has been so
mercilessly hunted as to be at risk of extinction describes human
carelessness and greed, and the struggle for life from the cat’s
point of view. The result is a gripping tale of the hunted turning
on the hunters. |
ISBN: 0805006850
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Trail of the Wolf, 1993
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Arguably the one book
where RD Lawrence describes his accumulated life's knowledge of
wolves - from their social structure and hunting methods to their
biology and differences with other canids. Impressively
illustrated, Trail of the Wolf dispels common wolf myths
and enlightens readers with the author's personal experiences
observing wild and captive wolves. |
ISBN: 0875965946
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The Green Trees Beyond, 1994
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RD
Lawrence’s autobiography tells the story of his birth in 1921 and
early childhood in Spain, his teenage fighting role in the Spanish
civil war, his enlistment in the British Army and subsequent
rescue at Dunkirk, followed by his wounding in North Africa and
again at Normandy. His recovery resurrected in him his childhood
passion for nature, and driven by that passion he immigrated to
Canada to spend a lifetime devoted to nurturance, not war. |
ISBN: 0805012974
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A Shriek in the Forest Night, 1996
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This remarkable saga by
Canadian field biologist RD Lawrence is at once a plea for
conservation, an emotionally affecting story, a naturalist's
report and a literary triumph.
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ISBN: 0773759174
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Owls, the Silent Fliers, 1997
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Illustrated with superb
photographs, Owls examines the history, myths and legends
of these noble birds, and celebrates their survival. True to form,
RD Lawrence recounts his own considerable experiences of owl
observation and rehabilitation. |
ISBN: 1550138448
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How to buy books by RD Lawrence
Five books by RD Lawrence are in print in North America and
Europe:
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