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Thomas Pakenham - In Search of Remarkable Trees: On Safari in Southern Africa

Kepler's Bookstore

June 21, 2008

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Thomas Pakenham, no stranger to Africa with his award-winning books The Boer War and The Scramble for Africa, nor to remarkable trees with his bestselling Remarkable Trees of the World, combines his two interests on safari in Southern Africa. His particular quarry is the rare, the giant, the very old, the extraordinary, or the simply beautiful—from a giant baobab and a prickly quiver tree in Namibia to a glorious jacaranda in South Africa and sesame bushes attacked by elephants in Botswana. He uncovers trees written about by the great explorers of the past, or associated with magic, folklore, or ritual. The narrative accompanying each image interweaves the stories of Pakenham’s own journey—at some moments scaling trees to escape from enraged wildlife, while at others standing in awe before a particular tree, connected by some primitive, atavistic bond—with those of the trees themselves, imbuing each with personality and presence. The result is a beautifully crafted blend of botany and social history, the product of a brilliant photographer, an original mind, and a superlative writer.

Pakenham is the author of the critically acclaimed books The Boer War and The Scramble for Africa, which won the prestigious Alan Paton Award. He is the author and photographer of the bestselling titles Remarkable Trees of the World and Meetings With Remarkable Trees. He lives in London and in Ireland, and is chairman of the Irish Tree Society.

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• Ticket Info

  Tickets: Free

  Info Phone: 650-324-4321

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• Dates & Times

  Dates:
  June 21, 2008

  Times:
  2pm

• Venue Info

  Kepler's Books

  1010 El Camino Real Menlo Park, CA 94025

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• Parking Info

  Free underground and nearby street parking.

• Accessibility Info

  • Wheelchair Access

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