River Monsters: True Stories of the Ones that Didn t Get Away - Hardcover

Wade, Jeremy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0306819546 ISBN 13: 9780306819544

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 2011

Synopsis

I’m Jeremy Wade, biologist and fishing detective. For twenty-five years, I’ve explored our planet’s remotest rivers and lakes, hunting for monster-sized fish. It’s become something of an obsession for me. . . . Called “the greatest angling explorer of his generation” (Independent on Sunday), Jeremy Wade, host of Animal Planet’s wildly popular TV series River Monsters, takes viewers where no wildlife program has gone before, revealing the creatures that lurk in the murky depths of our planet’s inland waterways. Now, Wade goes truly beneath the surface, disclosing full details of how he tracks down and catches each species while also recounting the off-camera highlights of his extraordinary life. From his arrest as a suspected spy in Southeast Asia to a plane crash in the Amazon, every page of River Monsters is packed with adventure. Each chapter unfolds an enthralling detective story, where fishermen’s tales of underwater man-eaters and aquatic killers are subjected to scientific scrutiny. Follow Wade step-by-step as, armed with just a fishing line, he closes in on his prey and separates fact from fiction. From the heart of the Congo, where he wrestles with supernatural goliath tigerfish, to the depths of the Amazon, where the most feared creature is one that could fit in your palm, the results are fish of staggering proportions and terrifying demeanor. Wade also reveals monsters from upcoming episodes, including deadly electric eels, a giant described as a cross between a shark and a chainsaw, and a snake-like beast that truly is the stuff of legend. In the tradition of the most gripping adventure writing, River Monsters shows that there’s more to this world than what’s visible on the surface. As Wade says, with a fishing line anything is possible—sometimes it can even reveal the future, or at least one possible version of it. In similar fashion, Wade’s writings are much more than exhilarating stories: they reveal a vision of the world more awe-inspiring than any individual myth made flesh. Ultimately, River Monsters explores the real mysteries that still exist, capturing the story of one man’s obsession—and his relentless pursuit of the truth.

About this title

About the Author:

Jeremy Wade has a BSc in zoology from Bristol University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Kent. He has worked as a secondary science teacher, a newspaper reporter, and a senior advertising copywriter. He has written for publications including The Times, Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, and BBC Wildlife magazine. His previous book, Somewhere down the Crazy River (with Paul Boote), was published in 1992 to stellar reviews. Prior to River Monsters, Jeremy made two documentary series for Discovery Europe: Jungle Hooks (2002, set in the Amazon) and Jungle Hooks India (2005), both since shown worldwide. He lives in southern England.

Review:

A Wall Street Journal bestseller, 4/19/11

Outside
“Fishing may be a hobby to you, but for Jeremy Wade, host of Animal Planet’s RiverMonsters, it’s a way of life. Wade scours the rivers of the world for the stuff of legend, and we’re lucky enough to bear witness. Viewers have seen him catch a lot of big fish . . . but most of the thrill comes from watching the hunt.”

ShareThisAdventure.com, 4/6/11
"I would recommend this great book to any adventurer, fisher, or reader for that matter. [It] will not disappoint and is sure to awaken that urge inside us all for the unknown, for what is around that next bend, for what we cannot see."
 Newsday, 4/17/11
“A terrific read—intense, captivating and insightfully written.”
Toronto Globe & Mail, 4/23/11“This one may hook you.” Savannah Morning News, Bookworm Sez column, 4/28/11
“Readers will enjoy his vivid (and humorous) descriptions of lands he has visited and risks he has undertaken in his travels...Fisherman or not, I think you’ll enjoy the thrills you’ll find in this book. River Monsters is easy to get hooked on.” 

About this edition

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0306819546
• ISBN 13: 9780306819544
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304