The Presence of Whales: Contemporary Writings on the Whale

Frank Stewart, an observer, writer, storyteller, and lover of whales gathers the most compelling contemporary essays on cetaceans in the first anthology to bring together many of the foremost  marine scientists and nature writers, including Diane Ackerman, Barry Lopez, Farley Mowat, Faith McNulty, and Jonathan White.   

The essays are organized in five sections that celebrates our ongoing fascination with these fragile giants.

Sharing the World of Giants

contains essays inspired by being in the presence of whales,

Songs from the Deep

concentrates on whale vocalizations,

Sightings of the Leviathan

are compelling accounts of personal observations of whale behavior,

Death at Sea and On Shore

touch on the mystery of whale groundings and other violent encounters, and

A Splendid but Uncertain Company

explores teh privilege humans sense when near whales and the compact human contact has had on these glorious but gentle beasts.