Afield is a work of creative ethnography that uses poetry and visual art to reveal the complexity of human relations with other creatures in a time of planetary peril. Based on her participatory research at four sites of human-animal interaction, Linnea Ryshke uses evocative imagery and sensory language to describe the layers of dissonance that make up the more subtle methods of human control over other animals.

Structured in four parts, the book devotes a chapter to each place of research: a wildlife research station, a cognitive zoology laboratory, a bird conservation center, and a remote town in the Swedish Arctic. Whether describing the vulnerability and resilience of reindeer, the elusiveness of wild boars, or the velocity of swallows, the poems point to the moral imperative for reverence and humility toward the sovereign mystery of other animal lives. Diverse and imaginative in structure and form, the poems use specificity to reveal broader issues surrounding human systems of knowledge.

Afield pushes back against the scientific, rational-based bias that underlies most human conceptions of other creatures and advocates for spaces of uncertainty that acknowledge the limits of human metrics in quantifying animal worlds and capacities. Ryshke invites readers to inhabit this space of ambiguity and not knowing, which can ultimately be a fertile ground for change.

About the Author

Linnea Ryshke is a visual artist and writer who devotes her work to restoring the value of nonhuman animals as kindred beings worthy of adoration, respect, and empathy. She received her MFA in visual art from Washington University in St. Louis and currently is an assistant professor of painting and drawing at Nicholls State University in Louisiana. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she released her first book, Kindling, with Lantern Publishing & Media in the fall of 2021.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We carry a comprehensive range of out of print and rare books.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Kennys Bookshops and Art Galleries Limited
Liosban Industrial Estate, Tuam Road, Galway, Ireland

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks websites.

If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date.

For any queries please use the contact seller link or send an email to books@kennys.ie

Conor Kenny

Shipping Terms

All books securely packaged. Some books ship from Ireland.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	14 to 20 business days	13 to 14 business days
First item	US$ 10.50	US$ 21.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.