Mr. Le Queux, afraid that the old attraction of a treasure-hunt would fail to draw, has added some curious embellishments. A very queer craft dating from about the time of the Armada is sighted and taken in tow by the name 'Sea Horse.' It has on board a still more queer mariner, who looks like a survival of the same period. It has also one treasure—Italian, Spanish, and English gold pieces—and the clue to another. Then follows the accustomed struggle between the honest men and the villains for the possession of the hoard, every circumstance being of an extravagant kind, even down to the composition of the party of villains. Among them is an ex-Professor of Cambridge! We find him first as a common seaman deciphering a writing which has puzzled every one else.—The Spectator, August 29, 1903.

The acclaimed naturalist offers an in-depth profile of the timber rattlesnake, from its unique biological adaptations to its role in American history. The ominous rattle of the timber rattlesnake is one of the most famous—and terrifying—sounds in nature. Today, they are found in thirty-one states and many major cities. Yet most Americans have never seen a timber rattler, and only know them from movies or our frightened imaginations. Ted Levin aims to change that with America’s Snake. This portrait of the timber rattler explores its significance in American frontier history, and sheds light on the heroic efforts to protect the species against habitat loss, climate change, and the human tendency to kill what we fear. Taking us from labs where the secrets of the snake’s evolutionary adaptations are being unlocked to far-flung habitats that are protected by dedicated herpetologists, Levin paints a picture of a fascinating creature: peaceable, social, long-lived, and, despite our phobias, not inclined to bite. The timber rattler emerges here as an emblem of America, but also of the struggles involved in protecting the natural world. A wonderful mix of natural history, travel writing, and exemplary journalism, America’s Snake is loaded with remarkable characters—none more so than the snake itself: frightening, fascinating, and unforgettable. A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Award-winner