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Sign up todayEloquence of the Sardine
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Learn moreIf we listen to the ocean, what do we hear? What can it teach us? How can it change us?
Written by a marine scientist (and winner of French eloquence competitions), this work of narrative nonfiction blends Bill François’s personal story with that of sea creatures to create an original and exciting work. In poetic prose, he describes his unlikely journey from being a Parisian child, afraid of the water and crippled by self-consciousness, to an eloquent and self-assured young man with a passion for the ocean and all who inhabit it. In doing so, he tells the stories of sardines, anchovies, eels, suckerfish, and whales (to name a few), and demystifies their fascinating conversations.
A mix between science and storytelling from the past and present, Eloquence of the Sardine is an invitation to dive deep and learn from the secrets of the ocean.
Antony Shugaar is a writer and translator. Aside from Giorgio Faletti’s A Pimp’s Notes, his recent translations include books by Simonetta Agnello Hornby, Silvia Avallone, Nanni Balestrini (with an NEA translation fellowship), Fabio Bartolomei, Massimo Carlotto, Giancarlo De Cataldo, Diego De Silva, Marco Mancassola, Gianni Rodari, and Paolo Sorrentino. He is the author of Coast to Coast and I Lie for a Living and the coauthor, with the late Gianni Guadalupi, of Discovering America and Latitude Zero. He has published with the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and online with the New York Times, among other publications. He is currently at work on a book about translation for the University of Virginia Press.
Physicist and naturalist Bill François has always been fascinated by aquatic life. After he graduated from the École Normale Supérieure in Paris with a PhD in fish hydrodynamics, his passion for writing and public speaking propelled him into the world of words. Now he blends the two universes to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans and share his love for marine creatures.
Graham Halstead is an American actor and voice artist living and working in Paris, France. His voice work includes animation, commercials, and AudioFile Earphones and Audie Award–winning audiobook narration. His work in the theater includes performances in New York, regionally in Washington, DC, and internationally in Edinburgh and London. His most recent television work can be seen on AMC and Netflix.
Antony Shugaar is a writer and translator. Aside from Giorgio Faletti’s A Pimp’s Notes, his recent translations include books by Simonetta Agnello Hornby, Silvia Avallone, Nanni Balestrini (with an NEA translation fellowship), Fabio Bartolomei, Massimo Carlotto, Giancarlo De Cataldo, Diego De Silva, Marco Mancassola, Gianni Rodari, and Paolo Sorrentino. He is the author of Coast to Coast and I Lie for a Living and the coauthor, with the late Gianni Guadalupi, of Discovering America and Latitude Zero. He has published with the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and online with the New York Times, among other publications. He is currently at work on a book about translation for the University of Virginia Press.
Reviews
“Delightfully told in stunningly beautiful language, this is a rare book combining deep scientific insight and firsthand experience with the sheer poetry of the sea. Take the plunge, immerse yourself, feel the beauty, and be amazed!"
“Illuminating…François’s tone is conversational, and his passion and excitement are contagious…The result is a fun deep dive into marine life.”
“Full of engrossing stories, gentle humor, and wit, Bill François’s eye-opening exploration of the underwater world takes the reader on a fascinating scientific and philosophical journey into the secret lives of fishes. Eloquence of the Sardine is exactly that: eloquent, as well as revelatory and highly readable.”
“We live on a planet that is mostly covered in oceans, but we hardly know the stories contained in them. In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Bill François reminds us that these stories come from many voices—lonely whales, educated octopuses, and insatiable tuna—if we’re willing to listen. With lyricism and honesty, François speaks for these voices, whether they live far out on the blue water or show up on our dinner plates. The stories in this book will convince you that these voices are all worth knowing, saving, and celebrating.”
“Bill François guides us on a fascinating journey to reveal dimensions beneath the seas rarely seen by most of us. With a talent as a storyteller and the insights of a scientist, he introduces us to a gallery of undersea inhabitants and considers lessons we can learn from them on the future of our oceans. Weaving personal stories with physics theory, history, and parables, Eloquence of the Sardine is an enchanting and insightful exploration of life in the underwater world of our rivers, seas, and oceans.”
“With an elegant mix of storytelling, science, and humor, Bill François delights us with his infectious love of life beneath the waves. These aquatic reveries pry open the oceans’ mysteries to reveal pearls within.”
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