Books by David R. Foster

Part ecological and historical puzzle, this book brings a vanished countryside to life and offers a rich record of human imprint upon the land. With Thoreau as muse, Foster adds the perspective of a modern forest ecologist and landscape historian, using the journals to trace themes of historical and social change.

The world-renowned dioramas in Harvard's Fisher Museum have introduced New England's landscape to countless visitors and have appeared in many ecology, forestry, and natural history texts. This first book based on the dioramas conveys the phenomenal history of the land, the beauty of the models, and new insights into nature.