Rachel Carson's seminal work “Silent Spring” was published in 1962. The book examined the environmental and human health impacts of pesticides, with Carson combining a journalistic style for explaining science with an allegorical approach for illustrating key concepts. In the years that followed, the publication of Silent Spring had a marked impact, as both the book and Carson herself received both widespread praise and heavy criticism. We examine the initial reaction of the entomological community to “Silent Spring”, and in particular we focus upon the published response from some prominent entomologists at the time, including responses from within the Entomological Society of America itself.
Keywords: Silent Spring, Carson
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