Suitable for all who find the shore a place of excitement, wonder, and beauty, and an introductory text for both students and professionals, this book describes the habits and habitats of the animals that live in one of the most prolific life zones of the world - the rocky shores and tide pools of the Pacific Coast of the United States.
The collection features 125 unpublished letters from marine biologist Edward F. Ricketts, showcasing his vibrant intellectual exchanges with notable figures like John Steinbeck, Henry Miller, and Joseph Campbell. These correspondences, set against the backdrop of his Monterey Bay laboratory in the 1930s and 1940s, highlight Ricketts's diverse interests and significant contributions as a scientist, writer, and philosopher. The letters offer a glimpse into the Bohemian culture and rich discussions that defined his life during its most productive years.