Silent Spring

Now recognized as one of the most influential books of the twentieth century, Silent Spring revealed the destruction of wildlife caused by the widespread use of pesticides.

Rachel Carson's Silent Spring raised public awareness about the environmental and health dangers of pesticides and led to revolutionary changes in the laws governing our air, land, and water. Despite condemnations in the press and draconian attempts by the chemical industry to ban the book, Carson succeeded in creating a new public consciousness about the environment, which resulted in government changes and inspired the ecological movement. Thanks to this book and the support of many environmentalists, harmful pesticides like DDT were banned in the U.S. and in countries worldwide.

This edition of the Penguin Modern Classics includes an introduction by Lord Shackleton, a foreword by the founder of the World Wildlife Fund, Julian Huxley, and an afterword by Carson's biographer, Linda Lear.