Woman in the Mists
Encyclopedia
Woman in the Mists: The Story of Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas of Africa is a 1987 biography of the conservationist Dian Fossey
, who studied and lived among the mountain gorilla
s of Rwanda
.
It is written by the Canadian author Farley Mowat
, himself a conservationist and author of the book Never Cry Wolf.
Mowat says this decision illustrates the strength of character that made her famous and that may also have led to her death.
In 1960 she gained an interview with Louis Leakey
, the famous anthropologist, who encouraged her to study the mountain gorillas of Central Africa at first hand. She accepted this advice against the wishes of her friends and family.
At first, it seemed that she was following the path defined by Jane Goodall
, and would become a successful scientist.
However, she soon became passionately interested in the cause of preserving the mountain gorillas.
An outspoken woman, she made no attempt to disguise her hatred and contempt for poachers and hunters.
In December 1986 she was murdered in her African camp.
Although the book does not delve into the subject in depth, Mowat speculates that a disgruntled poacher may have been hired to kill her by people opposed to her crusade to preserve the gorillas.
A secondary theme is the importance of preserving the mountain gorillas, which accords with Mowat's own interests as a conservationist.
starring Sigourney Weaver
.
A reviewer for Publishers Weekly
describes the book as "a gripping story from beginning to gruesome end, filled with drama, intrigue and love affairs... Her mercurial personality alone gives the book a wider audience than most in the nature-adventure genre and it is fitting that such a passionate defender of wildlife as Mowat write about her".
Frank Reiser writing in Library Journal
says "This gripping, action-packed story is essential reading for all who understand the sacrifice of self for the preservation of other species. Highly recommended".
Dian Fossey
Dian Fossey was an American zoologist who undertook an extensive study of gorilla groups over a period of 18 years. She studied them daily in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by famous anthropologist Louis Leakey...
, who studied and lived among the mountain gorilla
Mountain Gorilla
The Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...
s of Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
.
It is written by the Canadian author Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
, himself a conservationist and author of the book Never Cry Wolf.
Plot
Dian Fossey worked in the United States in a children's hospital until she decided to become a field anthropologist in Africa.Mowat says this decision illustrates the strength of character that made her famous and that may also have led to her death.
In 1960 she gained an interview with Louis Leakey
Louis Leakey
Louis Seymour Bazett Leakey was a British archaeologist and naturalist whose work was important in establishing human evolutionary development in Africa. He also played a major role in creating organizations for future research in Africa and for protecting wildlife there...
, the famous anthropologist, who encouraged her to study the mountain gorillas of Central Africa at first hand. She accepted this advice against the wishes of her friends and family.
At first, it seemed that she was following the path defined by Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall
Dame Jane Morris Goodall, DBE , is a British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 45-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National...
, and would become a successful scientist.
However, she soon became passionately interested in the cause of preserving the mountain gorillas.
An outspoken woman, she made no attempt to disguise her hatred and contempt for poachers and hunters.
In December 1986 she was murdered in her African camp.
Although the book does not delve into the subject in depth, Mowat speculates that a disgruntled poacher may have been hired to kill her by people opposed to her crusade to preserve the gorillas.
Major Themes
Farley Mowat is highly sympathetic to Fossey's interest in preserving the gorillas. He gives a vivid and convincing portrait of her intense feelings, without concealing that she had a stubborn and difficult personality. She became bitter, with no intimate friends, and her single-mindedness may have contributed to her death.A secondary theme is the importance of preserving the mountain gorillas, which accords with Mowat's own interests as a conservationist.
Publication history
- 1987, USA, Warner Books ISBN 035617106X, Hardcover
- 1988, Macdonald ISBN 035617106X, Hardcover
- 1988, Grand Central Publishing ISBN 0446387207, Paperback
- 2001, UK, Turtleback Books ISBN 0833538314, Hardcover
Explanation of the title
The title is a play on the title of Dian Fossey's 1983 book Gorillas in the Mist in which she described her work with mountain gorillas, and which provided some of the material used in the 1988 biographical film Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian FosseyGorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey
Gorillas in the Mist is a 1988 American drama film directed by Michael Apted and starring Sigourney Weaver as naturalist Dian Fossey. It tells the true-life story of her work in Rwanda with Mountain Gorillas and was nominated for five Academy Awards....
starring Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress. She is best known for her critically acclaimed role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition .Other notable roles include Dana...
.
Literary reception
According to Stefan Kanfer of Time Magazine, "Mowat is scrupulously fair: he shows his subject antagonizing co-workers as she lurches from tantrum to euphoria and back again, but he praises her meticulous observations of animal life and her unceasing struggles with poachers and politics as she fights to save the mountain gorillas from extinction ... Mowat finally makes some convincing accusations of government-sponsored assassins. But he concedes, sadly, that Fossey's misanthropy made her an accessory to the crime".A reviewer for Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
describes the book as "a gripping story from beginning to gruesome end, filled with drama, intrigue and love affairs... Her mercurial personality alone gives the book a wider audience than most in the nature-adventure genre and it is fitting that such a passionate defender of wildlife as Mowat write about her".
Frank Reiser writing in Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
says "This gripping, action-packed story is essential reading for all who understand the sacrifice of self for the preservation of other species. Highly recommended".