The Sea Around Us
Encyclopedia
The Sea Around Us is a prize-winning 1951 bestseller
by Rachel Carson
about oceanography
, marine biology
and the ecosystem within and around the world's oceans and seas. It is the second book Carson wrote, following the well-reviewed but poor-selling Under the Sea Wind (1941), and is the book that launched Carson into the public eye. Often described as "poetic", the book won both the 1952 National Book Award
in nonfiction and a Burroughs Medal in nature writing. The book has been translated into over thirty languages. The book remained on the bestseller list for 86 weeks.
Carson began writing the book—which she initially planned to call Return to the Sea—in 1948, just after hiring Marie Rodell
as her literary agent
. Carson began by writing a single chapter (what would be "The Birth of an Island") along with a detailed outline, which Rodell used to pitch the book to publishers. In researching for the book, Carson met with a number of oceanographers to discuss current research. Carson and Rodell had little initial success with magazines as venues for the islands chapter along with a second chapter titled "Another Beachhead". In April, 1949, with about a third of the chapters complete, Rodell began trying to find a publisher for the full book. By June, Carson had a contract with Oxford University Press
that promised completion of the manuscript by March 1, 1950. Carson continued to write and research through 1949 and into 1950, despite unexpected health and financial difficulties. Part of the research involved a trip aboard a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
's ship, Albatross III. After pushing back the completion deadline, Carson completed the manuscript in June 1950. By that time, several periodicals (The New Yorker
, Science Digest
, and The Yale Review
) wanted to publish some of the chapters, as well.
Much of the book (nine of fourteen chapters) was serialized in The New Yorker
, beginning on June 2, 1951, and the book was published on July 2 by Oxford University Press
. The serialization created a very large popular response, and the book was the subject of the feature review in The New York Times Book Review
the day before publication. One chapter ("The Birth of an Island") was published in The Yale Review
; it won the George Westinghouse Science Writing prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
and media attention. She was soon the object of attention from "the literary crowd", and because of a subsequent condensation in Reader's Digest
, a very broad general audience as well. The book sold over 250,000 copies in 1951, in addition to the condensation and excerpts published elsewhere.
was filmed in 1952 and released in 1953; it won the 1953 Oscar for Best Documentary (though Carson was extremely disappointed with the script and would never sell film rights to her work again).
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
by Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
about oceanography
Oceanography
Oceanography , also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth science that studies the ocean...
, marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
and the ecosystem within and around the world's oceans and seas. It is the second book Carson wrote, following the well-reviewed but poor-selling Under the Sea Wind (1941), and is the book that launched Carson into the public eye. Often described as "poetic", the book won both the 1952 National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
in nonfiction and a Burroughs Medal in nature writing. The book has been translated into over thirty languages. The book remained on the bestseller list for 86 weeks.
Carson began writing the book—which she initially planned to call Return to the Sea—in 1948, just after hiring Marie Rodell
Marie Rodell
Marie Freid Rodell was a literary agent and author who managed the publications of much of environmentalist Rachel Carson's writings, as well as the first book by civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr.....
as her literary agent
Literary agent
A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers...
. Carson began by writing a single chapter (what would be "The Birth of an Island") along with a detailed outline, which Rodell used to pitch the book to publishers. In researching for the book, Carson met with a number of oceanographers to discuss current research. Carson and Rodell had little initial success with magazines as venues for the islands chapter along with a second chapter titled "Another Beachhead". In April, 1949, with about a third of the chapters complete, Rodell began trying to find a publisher for the full book. By June, Carson had a contract with Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
that promised completion of the manuscript by March 1, 1950. Carson continued to write and research through 1949 and into 1950, despite unexpected health and financial difficulties. Part of the research involved a trip aboard a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
's ship, Albatross III. After pushing back the completion deadline, Carson completed the manuscript in June 1950. By that time, several periodicals (The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, Science Digest
Science Digest
Science Digest was a monthly American magazine published by the Hearst Corporation from 1937 through 1986. It initially had an 8 x 5 inch format with about 100 pages, and was targeted at persons with a high school education level...
, and The Yale Review
The Yale Review
The Yale Review is the self-proclaimed oldest literary quarterly in the United States. It is published by Yale University.It was founded originally in 1819 as The Christian Spectator. At its origin it was published to support Evangelicalism, but over time began to publish more on history and...
) wanted to publish some of the chapters, as well.
Much of the book (nine of fourteen chapters) was serialized in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, beginning on June 2, 1951, and the book was published on July 2 by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
. The serialization created a very large popular response, and the book was the subject of the feature review in The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
the day before publication. One chapter ("The Birth of an Island") was published in The Yale Review
Yale Review
The Yale Review is the self-proclaimed oldest literary quarterly in the United States. It is published by Yale University.It was founded originally in 1819 as The Christian Spectator. At its origin it was published to support Evangelicalism, but over time began to publish more on history and...
; it won the George Westinghouse Science Writing prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Critical reception
After the book's release, Carson was inundated with an unexpected volume of fan mailFan mail
Fan mail is mail sent to a public figure, especially a celebrity, by their admirers or "fans".In return celebrities may send a poster or picture and usually a return letter.-Overview:...
and media attention. She was soon the object of attention from "the literary crowd", and because of a subsequent condensation in Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
, a very broad general audience as well. The book sold over 250,000 copies in 1951, in addition to the condensation and excerpts published elsewhere.
Adaptations
A film versionThe Sea Around Us (film)
The Sea Around Us is a 1953 documentary film directed by Irwin Allen and released by RKO. It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It was based on the Rachel Carson book of the same name.-External links:...
was filmed in 1952 and released in 1953; it won the 1953 Oscar for Best Documentary (though Carson was extremely disappointed with the script and would never sell film rights to her work again).