Equal parts biography, natural history, and travelogue, Jack Nisbet tells the story of David Douglas, the 19th century Scottish naturalist and botanical explorer—perfect for amateur naturalists and armchair historians of the Pacific Northwest  The Collector tracks Douglas's fascinating history, from his humble birth in Scotland in 1799 to his botanical training under the famed William Jackson Hooker, and details his adventures in North America discovering exotic new plants for the English and European market. Douglas's discoveries include hundreds of western plants--most notably the Douglas Fir.  The book takes readers along on Douglas's journeys into a literal brave new world of then-obscure realms from Puget Sound to the Sandwich Islands.  “In telling Douglas's story, Nisbet evokes a lost world of early exploration, pristine nature, ambition, and cultural and class conflict with surprisingly modern resonances.”  Bookmarks Magazine   "An exhilarating biography that provides an entertaining portrait of the unfettered determination that drove one of the giants in the field of botanical exploration and infused the young nation he viewed with a keen and zealous spirit."  Booklist "Jack Nisbet’s brisk, thrilling accoun allows us to walk, ride, and paddle along with David Douglas, the tireless nineteenth-century Scotsman whose name is attached to Cascadia’s iconic fir. Nisbet takes us on the ultimate naturalist’s tour of a largely “In telling Douglas' story, Nisbet evokes a lost world of early exploration, pristine nature, ambition, and cultural and class conflict with surprisingly modern resonances.” — Bookmarks Magazine     “…a compelling look into what the world here was like just before widespread white settlement.” — The Inlander     “Nisbet gracefully and concisely traces Douglas’ journey from a gardener’s apprentice in Scotland to a young botanist-collector.” — The Spokesman-Review     “…an exhilarating biography that provides an entertaining portrait of the unfettered determination that drove one of the giants in the field of botanical exploration and infused the young nation he viewed with a keen and zealous spirit.” — Booklist     “Nisbet’s well-researched narrative has considerable bounce and drama… It’s a portrait of a true adventurer…a solid piece of scholarship and synthesis.” — Kirkus Reviews JACK NISBET  is a historian, teacher, and author focusing on the intersection of human history and natural history in the Pacific Northwest. His books include  Sources of the River  (recipient of the Washington Governor's Award and winner of the Murray Morgan Prize from the Washington State Historical Society),  The Mapmaker's Eye  (named one of The Best Nonfiction Books of the Year by  The Seattle Times ) , and  Visible Bones . He lives in Spokane, Washington. Used Book in Good Condition