THE TREE WHERE MAN WAS BORN
In this classic publication, Matthiessen exquisitely combines both nature and travel writing to bring East Africa vividly to life. Skillfully portraying the daily lives of herdsmen and hunter-gatherers; the drama of the predator kills; the hundreds of exotic animals; the breathtaking landscapes; and the area's turbulent natural, political, and social histories, The Tree Where Man Was Born is nature writing at its finest, and not to be missed.

SAND RIVERS
In 1979, Michael Haggiag asked the writer and naturalist Peter Matthiessen to create a book about the largest and least-known stronghold of wild animals left on earth. Not long after, they joined wildlife photographer Hugo van Lawick on a safari into the Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania. Sand Rivers is the beautiful account of a remarkable trip into this quintessential East African wilderness, and one that helped ensure that this majestic part of the world would forever be protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

SCOTT CHASKEY, PMC Vice President

Scott Chaskey is poet, farmer, and educator. He is the author of several books, including Seedtime, On the History, Husbandry, Politics, and Promise of Seeds. His new book, Soil and Spirit will be published in the Spring by Milkweed Editions. He was introduced to Peter Matthiessen and Sagaponack Stables Zendo (now Ocean Zendo) by his mother-in-law, the painter Connie Fox, who began sitting Zen with Peter in 1980. Scott was a member of the Sangha for many years, and he knew Peter as teacher and friend for over two decades. “Of course!" he said, when asked to join a group of people dedicated to preserving Peter’s extraordinary legacy as a writer, naturalist, activist, and Zen Roshi. Together, for over three years, they have been on the path to establish the Peter Matthiessen Center, inspired by the exemplary life of Peter.

MICHAEL HAGGIAG, PMC Secretary Treasurer

Michael Haggiag has had an extensive career as a filmmaker, television producer and publisher in the United Kingdom before moving back to the USA in 2012. In London he co-founded and managed several media companies as well as a successful property firm. His first venture, Aurum Press, was known for publishing the multi-volume Aurum Encyclopedia of Film, Angelina Ballerina and many iconic British photographers of the 1970s. Global Arts Productions produced Connoisseur’s Diary for Sotheby’s London and several award-winning shows like Ken Russell’s Lady Chatterley, Raymond Brigg’s Fungus the Bogeyman for the BBC, and the long running series The Worst Witch–the British precursor to Harry Potter. More recently, Michael has concentrated his energies on photography and mixed media installations. His work has been exhibited in New York, Miami, Rome and a few other venues in Italy.