Michael Sims
Encyclopedia
Michael Sims is a noted American nonfiction writer, author most recently of The Story of Charlotte's Web (2011). His other nonfiction books include In the Womb: Animals (2009), Apollo’s Fire (2007), Adam's Navel (2003), and Darwin's Orchestra (1997). He is also an acclaimed anthologist, editor of several volumes of Victorian and Edwardian fiction and poetry. Sims's nonfiction books have received critical acclaim in every English-speaking country as well as in translation in Europe and Asia.
, Sims has described in interviews how he grew up in a household without a telephone, an automobile, or, at times, indoor plumbing. He spent his teenage years in a wheelchair because of rheumatic arthritis
following an attack of rheumatic fever
. http://www.bookpage.com/0308bp/michael_sims.html Although Robert Macfarlane
in the Sunday Times (London) said that Sims “is clearly the beneficiary of a wide-ranging American liberal-arts education,” actually Sims did not attend university. But he developed in childhood a preoccupation with literature, art, and nature, themes that dominate his adult work.
wrote, "Sims's range is awesome." But it was Sims's second book, Adam's Navel: A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Form, in 2003, that established his reputation as an original and witty observer of the natural world. Published simultaneously in the U.S. and England, it was chosen as a Library Journal
Best Science Book and a New York Times Notable Book. In 2007 Viking published Apollo's Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination, which National Public Radio chose as one of the best science books of the year. In 2009 National Geographic Books published In the Womb: Animals, a companion book to two installments of the acclaimed In the Womb series on the National Geographic Channel.
Sims's writing has been published in many periodicals, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times
, New Statesman
, Chronicle of Higher Education, Gourmet
, Orion
and American Archaeology.
He has appeared on many radio and television programs, including a multi-part documentary about women's bodies on BBC Radio 4
's popular program Woman's Hour
, as well as on The Early Show on CBS and Inside Edition.
2003 - Adam’s Navel: A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Form (Viking; published in England by Allen Lane/Penguin, with the subtitles "A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Body" and "The Weird and Wonderful Story of the Human Body")
2007 – Apollo’s Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination (Viking); U.S. paperback (Penguin) subtitle "A Journey through the Extraordinary Wonders of an Ordinary Day"
2009 – In the Womb: Animals (National Geographic Books), linked to a documentary series on the National Geographic Channel
2011 - The Story of Charlotte's Web (Walker) subtitle "E. B. White's Eccentric Life in Nature and the Birth of an American Classic"
, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
2007 – Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Thief, by Maurice Leblanc
, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
2009 – The Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
2010 – Dracula's Guest: A Connoisseur's Collection of Victorian Vampire Stories, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Walker & Company)
2011 - The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime: Forgotten Cops and Private Eyes from the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
Early life
Born in rural eastern Tennessee, near the small town of CrossvilleCrossville, Tennessee
Crossville is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 10,795 at the 2010 Census.-Geography:Crossville is located at...
, Sims has described in interviews how he grew up in a household without a telephone, an automobile, or, at times, indoor plumbing. He spent his teenage years in a wheelchair because of rheumatic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
following an attack of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
. http://www.bookpage.com/0308bp/michael_sims.html Although Robert Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane
Robert Macfarlane, , is a British travel writer and literary critic. Educated at Nottingham High School, Pembroke College, Cambridge and Magdalen College, Oxford, he is currently a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and teaches in the Faculty of English at Cambridge.-Books:Macfarlane's first...
in the Sunday Times (London) said that Sims “is clearly the beneficiary of a wide-ranging American liberal-arts education,” actually Sims did not attend university. But he developed in childhood a preoccupation with literature, art, and nature, themes that dominate his adult work.
Career
Sims published his first book, Darwin's Orchestra, in 1997, about which Martin GardnerMartin Gardner
Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature , philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion...
wrote, "Sims's range is awesome." But it was Sims's second book, Adam's Navel: A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Form, in 2003, that established his reputation as an original and witty observer of the natural world. Published simultaneously in the U.S. and England, it was chosen as a Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
Best Science Book and a New York Times Notable Book. In 2007 Viking published Apollo's Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination, which National Public Radio chose as one of the best science books of the year. In 2009 National Geographic Books published In the Womb: Animals, a companion book to two installments of the acclaimed In the Womb series on the National Geographic Channel.
Sims's writing has been published in many periodicals, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
, Chronicle of Higher Education, Gourmet
Gourmet (magazine)
Gourmet magazine was a monthly publication of Condé Nast and the first U.S. magazine devoted to food and wine. Founded by Earle R. MacAusland and first published in 1941, Gourmet also covered "good living" on a wider scale....
, Orion
Orion (magazine)
Orion is a bimonthly, advertisement-free, magazine focused on nature, the environment, and culture, addressing environmental and societal issues....
and American Archaeology.
He has appeared on many radio and television programs, including a multi-part documentary about women's bodies on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's popular program Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
, as well as on The Early Show on CBS and Inside Edition.
Books by Michael Sims
1997 - Darwin’s Orchestra: An Almanac of Nature in History and the Arts (Henry Holt)2003 - Adam’s Navel: A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Form (Viking; published in England by Allen Lane/Penguin, with the subtitles "A Natural and Cultural History of the Human Body" and "The Weird and Wonderful Story of the Human Body")
2007 – Apollo’s Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination (Viking); U.S. paperback (Penguin) subtitle "A Journey through the Extraordinary Wonders of an Ordinary Day"
2009 – In the Womb: Animals (National Geographic Books), linked to a documentary series on the National Geographic Channel
2011 - The Story of Charlotte's Web (Walker) subtitle "E. B. White's Eccentric Life in Nature and the Birth of an American Classic"
Collections Edited
2006 – The Annotated Archy and Mehitabel, by Don MarquisDon Marquis
Donald Robert Perry Marquis was a humorist, journalist, and author. He was variously a novelist, poet, newspaper columnist, and playwright. He is remembered best for creating the characters "Archy" and "Mehitabel", supposed authors of humorous verse.-Life:...
, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
2007 – Arsene Lupin, Gentleman-Thief, by Maurice Leblanc
Maurice Leblanc
Maurice Marie Émile Leblanc was a French novelist and writer of short stories, known primarily as the creator of the fictional gentleman thief and detective Arsène Lupin, often described as a French counterpart to Arthur Conan Doyle's creation Sherlock Holmes.- Biography :Leblanc was born in...
, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
2009 – The Penguin Book of Gaslight Crime, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
2010 – Dracula's Guest: A Connoisseur's Collection of Victorian Vampire Stories, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Walker & Company)
2011 - The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime: Forgotten Cops and Private Eyes from the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Edited with Notes and Introduction by Michael Sims (Penguin Classics)
External links
- Official Website
- John Banville’s review of Adam’s Navel in the New York Times Book Review
- 'Some Pig, Some Book', Anthony EsolenAnthony M. EsolenAnthony M. Esolen is a professor of English at Providence College and noted translator of classic works, as well as a popular writer for magazines like the Claremont Review and Touchstone, of which he is a senior editor. He has translated Dante's Divine Comedy, Lucretius' On the Nature of Things,...
, The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, 11 June 2011