New Book Translations:
Natural History & Art History
Portrait of an Oyster
“An elegant and illuminating journey through the culture and history of the world’s best bivalve, Portrait of an Oyster gracefully joins the pantheon of essential works illuminating the oyster’s elusive charms.”
—Rowan Jacobsen, author of “A Geography of Oysters”
“… Narrated with awe and gusto, Ammer’s Portrait of an Oyster is must for all who find their joy on the half shell... Funny, thoughtful, and tastebud-piquing... a celebratory tribute to the “bewitching” mollusk that transforms dining experiences from ordinary to great."
—Foreword Reviews
“Pleasingly unlike any other book in the genre, Portrait of An Oyster is a joyful, erudite romp through the history, biology, and symbolism of the world’s favorite bivalve. Ammer’s thoughtful and wry prose ranges from raunchy to morbid, sentimental to scientific with gorgeous results. This is an essential addition to any oyster-lover’s bookshelf.”
—Karen Pinchin, author of “Kings of Their Own Ocean”
The Curious World of Seahorses
"Not just a compelling read, but also a love letter to the strangest creatures of the ocean—seahorses."
—Frauke Bagusche, author of “The Blue Wonder”
"[An] illuminating—and sobering—overview of arguably the most magical creature in the sea... Hein exposes humans as horrific threats to these marvelous beings’ lives and habitats. Readers will remain fascinated and, hopefully, concerned long past the final page."
—Booklist STARRED Review
An enlightening deep-dive... A diverting look at an aquatic wonder.”
—Publishers Weekly
"This delightful book plunges deeply into the strange lives of one of the ocean’s most enigmatic groups of fishes. From mystery to myth, history to technology, exploitation to protection, Till Hein’s book should appeal to a wide readership."
—Jonathan Balcombe, author of Super Fly and What a Fish Knows
"An easy read, yet chock-full of information. Till Hein makes clear that protecting seahorses is a vital step toward healing the entire ocean."
—Daniel Pauly, principal investigator at The Sea Around Us and author of Vanishing Fish