John Elder, professor of English and environmental studies at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt., one of the first scholars in the field and a major figure in its development, said one reason is that the writing is often a joy to read. From Thoreau's time in the 19th century through today, a series of writers established what is considered the American nature-writing tradition. People love it. The field also lets students bridge science and the humanities, which Elder believes is part of the attraction. You can feel the wholeness of your education and your culture.
Students are hungry for that.
We want something that ties together our whole experience. Another element of the popularity, Elder believes, is that many students are simply concerned about environmental issues and interested in reading literature that addresses the workings of the natural world. Trinity's Thomas sees the interest in the literature of nature as part of a larger pattern. Essayists, poets and novelists at the end of recent centuries have expressed anxieties about environmental conditions, he said. And students are receptive.