Items related to A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and...
In A Dark Place in the Jungle, writer Linda Spalding travels to Borneo's threatened jungles on the trail of orangutan researcher Birute galdikas. What she finds is an unholy mix of foreign scientists, government workers, tourists, loggers, descendants of Dayak headhunters, Javanese gold miners, and half-tame orangutans.
Galdikas, along with Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall. Formed the famed trio of "angels" Louis Leakey encouraged to study great apes in the wild In 1971, she went into the jungle to study orangutans and decades later emerged with a rundown empire crumbling around her. Along the way, as poachers and timber barons slaughtered orangutans by the hundreds, Galdikas evolved into Ibu, the great mother of orphan orangutans, blurring the line between ape and human, tourist and scientist, Eden and everything else. To the orangutans, this was perhaps the cruelest blow of all.
Spalding's quest takes her from the offices of Galdika's foundation in Los Angeles to the crocodile-infested Sekonyer River in Borneo, where she confronts the sad, corrupting failure of a woman trying desperately to mother a species to survival; the dangers and temptations of ecotourism; and the arrogance of the human inclination to alter the things we set out to save.
Here is a book that shows us no paradise is safe from the machinations of man, and no one immune to temptation.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
Biruté Galdikas is one of Louis Leakey's "three angels": Jane Goodall dedicated her life to the study of chimpanzees; Dian Fossey, gorillas; and Galdikas, the orangutans of Borneo's rainforest. Dark Place's author, Linda Spalding, says that Goodall is usually described as the "good fairy" of the three, respected and adored by all. Fossey, she says, died a martyr and was even compared to Jesus Christ at her eulogy, despite being considered "mad, paranoid, alcoholic, delusional, enormously daring, and vastly insecure." The difficult path Galdikas followed in the shadow of these two has attracted similar scrutiny--and, more recently, controversy.
About the Author:
A Dark Place in the Jungle tells the story of Spalding's "follow" of Galdikas, her attempt to study the scientist as Leakey's angels studied the great apes, observing her at a distance and noting her behavior. She trails Galdikas in the States and travels to Borneo three times in pursuit of the naturalist in her element. Spalding's assessment of her is far from favorable or flattering: Galdikas is portrayed alternately as conflicted, abrupt, arrogant, deceitful, distant, and, ultimately, as having failed drastically in her mission to "save" the orangutan from the press of human greed and indifference in Borneo.
In this way, Dark Place is a troublesome read. As a travelogue, the book is magnificent. Spalding is an observant, perceptive writer; her descriptions are lush, even lyrical, and often insightful, especially the meditations on motherhood and her reunion with her two young daughters, who travel to Borneo with her. Passing judgment on Galdikas's alleged guilt and Spalding's interactions with her is difficult, but Galdikas must certainly address the issues Spalding has raised. --Paul Hughes
Linda Spalding is the author of two novels, Daughters of Captain Cook and The Paper Wife. Born in Kansas, she has lived in Mexico, Japan, and Hawaii. She lives now in Toronto, where she is the editor of Brick: A Literary Journal.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherAlgonquin Books
- Publication date1999
- ISBN 10 1565122267
- ISBN 13 9781565122260
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages300
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 13.20
Shipping:
US$ 4.75
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle : Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 12319819-75
Buy Used
US$ 6.77
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle : Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 12319819-75
Buy Used
US$ 6.77
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle : Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Very Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 2692015-6
Buy Used
US$ 6.77
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 3
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00054297761
Buy Used
US$ 6.87
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Seller Inventory # G1565122267I4N00
Buy Used
US$ 8.36
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Seller Inventory # G1565122267I3N00
Buy Used
US$ 8.36
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.4. Seller Inventory # G1565122267I3N00
Buy Used
US$ 8.36
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description hardcover. Condition: Very Good. . Used - Very Good. Seller Inventory # 4-V-3-0229
Buy Used
US$ 4.52
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle : Science, Orangutans,
Published by
Algonquin Books
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description 1998, Mammals, Primates, Algonquin Books, 269 p., good ex-library boards and dust jacket. Seller Inventory # 121502
Buy Used
US$ 5.00
Convert currency
Stock Image
A Dark Place in the Jungle: Science, Orangutans, and Human Nature
Published by
Algonquin Books
(1999)
ISBN 10: 1565122267
ISBN 13: 9781565122260
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. As New in Near Fine dj. Author's own account of what she witnessed during a visit to Borneo along with Birute' Galdikas, a well-known naturalist, on a mission to save endangered orangutans. *** 269pp. *** 1st ed. Seller Inventory # CORV-SEA-00912
Buy Used
US$ 6.00
Convert currency