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In her own words, Jessica J. Lee reveals that there's an underlying activist intent woven into her nature writing.

Interview with renowned essayist Jessica J. Lee on her latest work 'Dispersals', delving into the issue of diversity within nature writing.

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2 min read
"Jessica J. Lee's nature writing holds an underlying activist agenda."
"Jessica J. Lee's nature writing holds an underlying activist agenda."

In her own words, Jessica J. Lee reveals that there's an underlying activist intent woven into her nature writing.

Jessica J. Lee's "Dispersals" Explores Migration, Identity, and Nature

Jessica J. Lee, a British-Canadian-Taiwanese nonfiction author, has made a name for herself as one of the most celebrated contemporary writers of nature, identity, and place. With her PhD in environmental history and aesthetics, Lee's work interweaves personal memoir and family history with botany, cultural criticism, and first-hand observations of the natural world.

Lee's latest book, "Dispersals," is a series of fourteen essays that focus on the movement of plants rather than the deep continuous history of one place. This approach potentially resists old tropes in nature writing, offering a fresh perspective on the relationship between humans and the natural world.

In "Dispersals," Lee takes on themes of plant life and human migration. Each essay tells the border-crossing story of one particular type of flora, from the cherry blossom to the willowherb. The title "Dispersals" originates from the concept of dispersal in ecology, symbolizing the movement and spread of people, cultures, and identities, reflecting themes of migration and connection explored in the book.

One of the most compelling chapters in "Dispersals" is the one about the cherry blossom. Lee traces the history of cherry blossoms, from their use as a poetic celebration of spring to their association with Japanese imperialism, death, diplomacy, and friendship. The cherry blossoms mentioned in the book were gifted as a diplomatic gesture by Japan.

Lee's work in "Dispersals" explores the dual perspectives of being both an Orientalised and an Orientaliser. This is informed by her own family history of migration, which has played a significant role in shaping her worldview and writing.

In addition to her literary pursuits, Lee is also an advocate for diversity in nature writing. In 2018, she founded The Willowherb Review, an online magazine for nature writing by writers of colour. The magazine aimed to give a platform for writers of colour and reached over 70,000 readers during its operation.

On May 23, Lee will be reading at a book event at the Lobe Canteen. "Dispersals" by Jessica J. Lee is available in the US (Catapult) and will be released in the UK (Hamish Hamilton) on Apr 25.

Lee's love for nature extends beyond her writing. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming, but also takes time to observe and study nature's details. Her approach to nature writing is one that is both personal and scholarly, making her work accessible and engaging for a wide audience.

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