Environment and History

William Beinart is Reader and Peter Coates Lecturer in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Bristol. William Beinart is the author of Hidden Struggles in Rural South Africa (1987), and Twentieth-Century South Africa (1994). He is the co-editor of Segregation and Apartheid in Twentieth-Century South Africa (1995). Peter Coates is the author of In Nature's Defence (1993).

'One of the best reads in any academic literature, the book transcends disciplinary boundaries, and provides a short but effective benchmark for future studies in environmental history. A veritable tour de force.' - Ecumene 1997'It is a source of intelligent discussion, well-referenced for non-specialists, and uses original examples drawn from the authors' familiarity with South Africa and the United States. Beautifully written book.' - Ecumene 1997'... this book is a veritable tour de force ...' - Michael Redclift Ecumene'They write with clarity, elegance a point. ... In a mere 120 pages they cover an extraordinary range of topics - hunting, forests, agriculture, national parks, conservation, environmentalism, land reform. ... Splendid in itself, ...' - Jrnl of Southern African Studies'...this is an excellent book, concisely written with a sense of subtle humour, with good references, suggestions for further reading and an index.' - Interdisciplinary Strands

• 1. Introduction: Comparative analysis, the historical background and the nature of environmental history 2. Hunting and animals: from game to wildlife 3. Timber and trees: from felling to forestry 4. Agriculture: exploitation unlimited and limited 5. Nature reserves and National Parks: revaluing and renaturing the wild 6. From conservation to environmentalism and beyond