Structure

Fen, Bog and Swamp is divided into four chapters that are stand alone essays. Chapters 2-4 explore the dynamics of the wetland biotypes of fen, bog and swamp, weaving historical references, scientific studies, personal anecdotes, and art and literary excerpts to amplify the importance of lost environs. Chapter 1 is an essay that explores all wetland types and lays a foundation of understand for the reader to naturally progress into the later chapters.

The author precedes the first chapter with a page dedicated to defining the terms ‘fen,’ ‘bog,’ and ‘swamp.’ This structure functions to clarify the meaning of often misunderstood words, and is carefully placed at the outset of the book to avoid confusing the reader. Because these words are often used interchangeably, and because so much of the lexicon of the natural world has been lost, the author includes the vocabulary page as a means of...