Dean B. Bennett is professor emeritus at the University of Maine at Farmington. Born and raised in Maine, much of his professional life has been devoted to teaching, writing, and illustrating books in the fields of science and environmental education, natural history, and human relationships with nature. This is his ninth book in the nature/environment field. His other books include: Maine's Natural Heritage: Rare Species and Unique Natural Features; Allagash: Maine's Wild and Scenic River; The Forgotten Nature of New England: A Search for Traces of the Original Wilderness; The Wilderness from Chamberlain Farm: A Story of Hope for the American Wild; On Wilderness: Voices from Maine (in collaboration with Phyllis Austin and Robert Kimber); and three children s books about nature, which he also illustrated.

"…a fabulous natural and human history, beginning and ending with one three—hundred—year—old hemlock. Through this extraordinary tree, we witness the history of a place and people, a history of ignorance, a history of arrogance, and ultimately, a history of humility. We find an intersection of wild nature and human spirit that gives us hope that we can permanently preserve a slice of the world as Wilderness." —William H. Meadows, President, The Wilderness Society
"Warning: Reading this book will make you want to lace up your hiking boots and explore Wild River Wilderness! Nature and Renewal is not a hiking guide, but the perfect companion to one, weaving together Dean Bennett's well—researched words, very clear maps, many historic photos, and beautiful pen—and—ink drawings to tell the story of this valley, how it has renewed itself after being heavily logged in the 1890s, and how spirited volunteers campaigned successfully to convince Congress to establish a wilderness area." —Doug Scott, Policy Director, Campaign for America's Wilderness, and author of The Enduring Wilderness