The First Eden: The Mediterranean World and Man

Published by Little, Brown and Company as a companion to a PBS series, this work showcases David Attenborough's characteristic combination of natural history expertise and engaging narrative style. The richly illustrated volume reflects Attenborough's decades of experience in wildlife filmmaking and natural history documentation.

The book provides a sweeping natural and cultural history of the Mediterranean region, exploring how human civilization developed alongside and influenced Mediterranean ecosystems. Attenborough examines the region's unique biodiversity, ancient civilizations, and the complex relationship between human culture and natural environment. The work combines scientific observation with historical analysis to create a comprehensive portrait of one of the world's most culturally and biologically significant regions.

The book represents Attenborough's expansion beyond pure wildlife documentation into cultural and environmental history. It demonstrates how natural history can illuminate human civilization and vice versa. The work helped establish the Mediterranean as a subject worthy of serious environmental and cultural study, influencing subsequent scholarship in environmental humanities.

The book accompanied one of Attenborough's most ambitious television projects, requiring extensive research across multiple Mediterranean countries. Attenborough's approach to the Mediterranean as both natural and cultural landscape influenced later environmental writing. The work's publication coincided with growing environmental awareness and concern about Mediterranean ecosystem preservation.