Renowned biologist and pioneering chemical ecologist Thomas Eisner died from complications of Parkinson's disease on March 25th at age 81. The Washington Post, New York Times, and Cornell Chronicle all have featured warm accounts of his life and work. Below, HUP Editorial Director Michael Fisher recalls the excitement of publishing Eisner’s now-classic book, For Love of Insects.
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Tom Eisner was one of the first authors I visited after I arrived at the Press in 1992. I had heard (I think from Ed Wilson) that Tom was planning to write a book. I travelled to Cornell to introduce myself and tell him how eager I was to work with him. I repeated that message in emails over the years that followed. But I had to wait until 2001 for a manuscript from Tom. (I would have waited longer.) That manuscript became his masterwork, For Love of Insects.
His next book, Secret Weapons, followed shortly thereafter, but then he became “backlist,” and our contact became less frequent, as tends to happen. When I learned of Tom’s death I felt compelled to revisit that exciting time when we worked so closely together on For Love of Insects. I looked back at our emails to one another, and at other messages related to the book, and have collected below a few that capture the excitement and momentum of publishing a wonderful and important book. It was a privilege to know and to work with Tom. And of course HUP will keep his great books in print for as long as there is an HUP.
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From: Thomas Eisner
Sent: January 19, 2001
Dear Michael,
I have indeed resumed work on the book, although it will never go fast... I am having real second thoughts though about the way in which I am "mixing" the science with personal recollections.
Happy New Year.
Tom Eisner
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Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001
To: Thomas Eisner
Dear Tom,
Hmm... this sounds ominous. Does that mean second thoughts about the whole enterprise? I hope not. Actually, what I really hope is that you won't allow your second thoughts to block you from completing a draft. Let an editor (me) at least see a complete draft.
Best,
Michael
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Sent: Friday, September 14, 2001 5:06 PM
To: Thomas Eisner
Tom,
the package arrived today
have a peaceful weekend
best, Michael
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From: Nancy Clemente
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2002 3:22 PM
Dear Tom Eisner,
I know Michael Fisher has told you I will be editing your book, but I just wanted to tell you directly how delighted I am at the thought of working with you and on such a fabulous project. The photographs are splendid and the prose lives up to the photographs, so I am sure I'll be having lots of fun as I read your book. I can't resist telling you that I had some of the figures on my desk a few days ago when Ed Wilson was in my office, and he couldn't resist asking what they were. So I told him and he said what a wonderful project it was and how much I would enjoy it. Couldn't have a better recommendation than that! Not that I couldn't see for myself that yours is the kind of project we don't see often enough. So I will plunge right in when I return from a leave in late September. Please give my best regards to Tom Seeley, whose bee book I remember with great fondness.
Cordially, Nancy (and please call me Nancy)
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Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003
From: Mark Nichols
Greetings, Straight to the point ---- I'm writing to share with you the good news that the following Harvard University Press title has been chosen by Book Sense booksellers to appear on the November/December 76 List:
FOR LOVE OF INSECTS, Thomas Eisner, 0674011813
Congratulations!
The full list will be posted in the October 16th edition of Bookselling This Week, with flyers due to arrive in stores by the week of 10/27.
As always, please be in touch with any questions or concerns. Thanks!
Cheers,
Mark
Mark Nichols
Director, Book Sense Marketing
American Booksellers Association
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Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2003
From: John Eklund
Friends, I'm very high on this labor of love from the fall Harvard list (Thomas Eisner/For Love of Insects 0674011813). The finished book came out looking so spectacular I wish I could sell it to you again. Which is maybe what I'm trying to do. If you will take a moment to go to the shelf and just pick it up (it has a really satisfying heft and trim size), flip through it, (especially noting the incredible illustrations and the stellar endorsements) and, most of all, consider the price and value ($29.95! How did they do that?)-- if you do this I will spare you the re-sales pitch here. THE pop science gift book of the season! (I know I'm a little biased). Booksense November-December selection! Watch this one, you were warned.
"To understand the success of insects is to appreciate our own shortcomings."
buggin,
John
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From: Michael Fisher
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004
Dear Tom,
I tried to reach you by phone this afternoon. You were at a lecture.
I learned today that For Love of Insects has been designated the Best Book in Biological Sciences for 2003 by the Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division of the American Association of Publishers. This is obviously an industry award, I'm thrilled, and I thank you for producing a book that (deservedly) has won this year's award and for publishing it with me and HUP.
Again, congratulations.
Be well.
Best, Michael
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From: Michael Fisher
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Hi Tom, I trust all is well.
All is _very_ well here. Today we ordered a 3rd printing--4000 copies. With this there will be roughly 18,000 copies in print. At this point I have to say that your book is not just a success, it's a SUCCESS.
Best,
Michael
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From: Thomas Eisner
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004
Thought you might enjoy this one...
- begin forwarded text
Dear Dr. Eisner,
I write to you in regard to one set of images in the book -- the moth courtship sequence on page 374.
I hope this doesn't sound silly to you, but I find that this sequence of images captures the mystery of life, its inexorable momentum and delicate power, with an overwhelming, strange beauty.
I debated whether I should intrude upon your time in this way, but I desperately wish to present this image to my girlfriend as a work of art for our bedroom wall.
I have asked a local gallery owner to produce a single print, about 8 by 11 inches, which I will have matted and framed, and use only for my own home.
I will go through with this upon the condition that you approve of such a use. I assure you that my reproduction will have no caption, no ornament of any kind, aside from the mat and frame. It will be absolutely true to the spirit of science-based wonder and appreciation your work engenders in the reader.
Thank you for your kind attention and wonderful, inspiring work.
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From: Michael Fisher
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006
Hi Tom,
Here’s the review of For Love of Insects that appears in the European Journal of Entomology (and that I just read). The author is T. Soldan.
Hundreds or possibly even thousands of books on insects, targeted at the public, nature lovers, beginners in entomology and environmentalists have been published. . . In my opinion Eisner's book undoubtedly belongs to the "top ten" and is the master entomologist's masterwork. In this book Eisner shares his world with seamless and beautiful prose and no naturalist or natural scientist will want to be without this book.
Have a great weekend.
Best,
Michael
