The Sea Around Us.

CARSON, Rachel L.

Item Number: 133801

New York: Oxford University Press, 1951.

First edition, early printing of Carson’s classic second book. Octavo, original pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “Inscribed for Ruth Y. Whyte with my best wishes. Rachel L. Carson.” Near fine in a good price-clipped dust jacket. Drawings by Katherine L. Howe.

Published in 1951, The Sea Around Us is one of the most remarkably successful books ever written about the natural world. Rachel Carson's rare ability to combine scientific insight with moving, poetic prose catapulted her book to first place on The New York Times best-seller list, where it enjoyed wide attention for thirty-one consecutive weeks. It remained on the list for more than a year and a half and ultimately sold well over a million copies, has been translated into 28 languages, inspired an Academy Award-winning documentary, and won both the 1952 National Book Award and the John Burroughs Medal and was chosen ‘woman of the year in literature’ by the Associated Press. "The Sea Around Us established Carson as the preeminent natural science writer of the day and won her international acclaim. Royalties from The Sea Around Us enabled Carson to retire from government service in 1952 and to build a cottage on the Sheepscot River in Maine, where she retreated to work each summer” (ANB).