Creatures of Fashion

“A clear yet detailed history of interactions between animals, humans, and the global markets they create together. . . . [I]t is refreshing to read Soluri’s nuanced study of Patagonia, where relationships between humans and animals rose, fell, and changed, often creating new conditions and interactions in unpredictable ways. . . . The fact that this book analyzes so many themes in what is a surprisingly clear, readable, and efficiently written style is commendable. . . . [A] valuable tool for teaching at any level in Latin American history, animal studies, environmental history, and commodity and economic history.”—The Americas

“A vibrant story. . . . Soluri weaves a complex narrative. . . . Written with elegance, Creatures of Fashion combines detailed regional descriptions with a clear connection to global forces, all within a relatively concise text. This makes it an excellent choice for both specialists and general readers across educational levels. Those exploring Latin American history, environmental studies, and transnational methods will find the book particularly compelling.”—Journal of Social History

“Soluri’s unusual and interesting history of the region . . . is a lively and well informed contribution to a category of scholarship broadly referred to as Animal Studies, which positions these subjects in academic disciplines that extend well beyond departments of zoology—from environmental history to anthropology and geography—and in which Latin America is rapidly gaining prominence.”—Latin American Review of Books

“This monograph . . . prompts numerous questions for reflection. . . . In doing so, Creatures of Fashion also invites conversations around time, space, and distance, and how these intersect with the environment. Certainly, this is a book that will animate future research.”—Journal of Latin American Geography

“Soluri offers an in-depth study that shakes up the foundations of the historiography of the colonization process in Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.”—A Contracorriente

“Creatures of Fashion dispels [any] romantic view [of Patagonia], showing, on the contrary, how the southern tip of South America has been enmeshed in global commodity chains since the late eighteenth century. . . . [A]n engaging retelling of Patagonia’s history that offers important insights into the global impacts of animal commodification.”—H-Environment

“A history of animals and fashion that has it all—from seals to sheep and desire to power. This is a stunning read.”—Bathsheba Demuth, Brown University

“Soluri expertly interweaves histories of Indigenous displacement, settler colonialism, global migration, and commodity production in this sober account; it is a stellar model of environmental history and animal studies.”—Sharika Crawford, United States Naval Academy

“Creatures of Fashion is a subtle, lucid, and imaginative recasting of the environmental dynamics of global capitalist expansion with animals at its center.”—Mark Healey, University of Connecticut