Richard Schneider 
Dark Nature 
Anti-Pastoral Essays in American Literature and Culture

In The Ecological Thought, eco-philosopher Timothy Morton has argued for the inclusion of ’;dark ecology’ in our thinking about nature. Dark ecology, he argues, puts hesitation, uncertainty, irony, and thoughtfulness back into ecological thinking.’ The ecological thought, he says, should include ’;negativity and irony, ugliness and horror.’ Focusing on this concept of ’;dark ecology’ and its invitation to add an anti-pastoral perspective to ecocriticism, this collection of essays on American literature and culture offers examples of how a vision of nature’s darker side can create a fuller understanding of humanity’s relation to nature. Included are essays on canonical American literature, on new voices in American literature, and on non-print American media. This is the first collection of essays applying the ’;dark ecology’ principle to American literature.