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Distributed for Reaktion Books

Lost Animals, Disappearing Worlds

Stories of Extinction

A moving and motivating collection of portraits of extinct species, revealing the profound implications of their disappearance.
 
This book presents thirty-one extinct species through personal portraits. The intimate approach not only highlights each particular species but also explores the broader implications of losing a species forever. How do we honor such a loss? Can we grieve for species we never knew? These animals range from the well-known passenger pigeon, thylacine, and great auk, to lesser-known creatures like the Arabian ostrich, Saint Helena earwig, and Bramble Cay melomys. Through her poignant portraits, Barbara Allen not only tugs on the heartstrings but also aims to inspire readers to protect vulnerable and endangered species today, motivating us to play a positive role in conserving our planet’s biodiversity.

224 pages | 27 color plates, 11 halftones | 6.14 x 9.21 | © 2025

Biological Sciences: Natural History


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Reviews

"Lost Animals, Disappearing Worlds: Stories of Extinction by Allen profiles the great auk, passenger pigeon, and Saint Helena earwig, among other extinct creatures, exploring how their disappearances affected their ecosystems and provide insight into humanity’s relationship with nature."

Publishers Weekly (Spring 2025 Fiction & Nonfiction Preview: Science)

"Allen’s Lost Animals, Disappearing Worlds is an inventive and beautiful hymn to what we have lost, all the while shining an urgent light of hope for the future."

Leah Kaminsky, author of "We're All Going to Die" and coeditor of "Animals Make Us Human"

"These stories of extinct creatures are comprehensively researched and imaginatively written. This book will enlighten and inspire those familiar with the subject and perhaps many who don’t yet know that they are interested."

Errol Fuller, author of "Extinct Birds" and coauthor (with Sir David Attenborough) of "Drawn from Paradise"

"A scholarly and meditative tribute to the remarkable species that humans have driven to extinction."

Ross Piper, author of "Animal Earth: The Amazing Diversity of Living Creatures"

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