The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature

The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man’s Love Affair with Nature

A deeply moving and illuminating memoir that bridges family, identity, nature, and race, The Home Place follows acclaimed ornithologist and ecologist J. Drew Lanham as he reflects on his roots in rural Edgefield County, South Carolina. From the storied soil of his ancestors’ land to his own journey into the world of birds and conservation, Lanham’s narrative is by turns lyrical, poignant, humorous, and reflective.

In this richly written work, Lanham explores what it means to be “the rare bird, the oddity”—a Black naturalist in a field historically dominated by white voices—and how the landscapes of home shape both personal and cultural identity. Woven through the memoir are tales of family, the natural world, and the complex history of the American South, creating an unforgettable meditation on belonging, place, and the human connection to the land.

Key Features:

• A lyrical memoir combining nature writing, personal history, and reflections on race and belonging.
• Written by a celebrated conservationist, ornithologist, poet, and professor.
• Praise as a thoughtful and resonant contribution to environmental and cultural literature.

Perfect for readers of memoir, nature writing, and American cultural history.