Jonathan C Slaght
@jonathanslaght.com
Author. Tigers Between Empires (2025). Owls of the Eastern Ice (2020, Best Book per NYT/WSJ, PEN America winner, Nat Book Award longlist). Work: Regional Director Temperate Asia @wcs.org. Home: Mpls https://linktr.ee/jslaght
a little disconcerting to have so much in common with one of the psychopaths on Peacemaker
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
a little disconcerting to have so much in common with one of the psychopaths on Peacemaker
My brother just sent this photo of his house (which he built) in Fairbanks, Alaska last night
November 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My brother just sent this photo of his house (which he built) in Fairbanks, Alaska last night
Note: one section of the Willow Palisade is still visible on Google Earth, near where the Weiyuanbao gate stood: shorturl.at/JoVI3 9/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Note: one section of the Willow Palisade is still visible on Google Earth, near where the Weiyuanbao gate stood: shorturl.at/JoVI3 9/9
Amur tigers were caught in the middle between habitat loss on one side and hunting on the other, which led to a population crash that brought them to the edge of extinction. It’s taken 170 years for tigers on both sides of this border to see a fragile recovery. 7/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Amur tigers were caught in the middle between habitat loss on one side and hunting on the other, which led to a population crash that brought them to the edge of extinction. It’s taken 170 years for tigers on both sides of this border to see a fragile recovery. 7/9
The Qing, perhaps hoping to firm up this new border so that the Russians would not take more land, encouraged immigration to the lands formerly protected by the Willow Palisade. The Russians poured their own settlers into the region as well. 6/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The Qing, perhaps hoping to firm up this new border so that the Russians would not take more land, encouraged immigration to the lands formerly protected by the Willow Palisade. The Russians poured their own settlers into the region as well. 6/9
however, a series of treaties between China and Russia 1858-1860 moved the border between these countries into the heart of the Qing homeland. 5/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
however, a series of treaties between China and Russia 1858-1860 moved the border between these countries into the heart of the Qing homeland. 5/9
while obviously not impenetrable (it was a wall of trees, after all), the Willow Palisade did deter human settlement of the Amur River basin, which in turn helped protect Amur tigers and their habitat. Weiyuanbao gate is at top left. 4/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
while obviously not impenetrable (it was a wall of trees, after all), the Willow Palisade did deter human settlement of the Amur River basin, which in turn helped protect Amur tigers and their habitat. Weiyuanbao gate is at top left. 4/9
the purpose of the Willow Palisade was to protect the Qing Dynasty homeland and its natural resources from outsiders (Han Chinese, ethnic Koreans & Mongolians). A series of ornate gates, spaced every 50 km, controlled entry and exit. This one was called Weiyuanbao. 3/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
the purpose of the Willow Palisade was to protect the Qing Dynasty homeland and its natural resources from outsiders (Han Chinese, ethnic Koreans & Mongolians). A series of ornate gates, spaced every 50 km, controlled entry and exit. This one was called Weiyuanbao. 3/9
When the willow saplings were planted their branches were woven together so as they grew they did so as a single wall. The Palisade consisted of two lines of these trees separated by a deep ditch. 2/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
When the willow saplings were planted their branches were woven together so as they grew they did so as a single wall. The Palisade consisted of two lines of these trees separated by a deep ditch. 2/9
A short 🧵: one astounding thing I learned while researching TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES was the existence of the Willow Palisade, a 700-km wall made of interlocking trees, an extension of the Great Wall planted in NE China in the 17th century. This map shows approx. Amur tiger range in 1850. 1/9
November 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A short 🧵: one astounding thing I learned while researching TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES was the existence of the Willow Palisade, a 700-km wall made of interlocking trees, an extension of the Great Wall planted in NE China in the 17th century. This map shows approx. Amur tiger range in 1850. 1/9
signed some tiger and owl books across London today, including @waterstones.bsky.social and @hatchards.bsky.social!
November 11, 2025 at 4:55 PM
signed some tiger and owl books across London today, including @waterstones.bsky.social and @hatchards.bsky.social!
cheers from London!
November 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
cheers from London!
Admiring the Penguin UK edition of my tiger book with a pint of IPA created by Iron Maiden
November 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Admiring the Penguin UK edition of my tiger book with a pint of IPA created by Iron Maiden
With co-guests @drjuliashaw.bsky.social and Juhea Kim this morning after speaking with @adamrutherford.bsky.social on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week in London.We talked tigers, environmental crime, and the power of art to change minds
November 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
With co-guests @drjuliashaw.bsky.social and Juhea Kim this morning after speaking with @adamrutherford.bsky.social on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week in London.We talked tigers, environmental crime, and the power of art to change minds
I didn't have to put @johnvaillant.bsky.social's FIRE WEATHER facing out at Waterstones Victoria bookshop in London...it was already like that!
November 10, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I didn't have to put @johnvaillant.bsky.social's FIRE WEATHER facing out at Waterstones Victoria bookshop in London...it was already like that!
had a pint in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub today, rebuilt in 1667, after the London Fire. Dickins drank here
November 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
had a pint in Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub today, rebuilt in 1667, after the London Fire. Dickins drank here
in London....going live on Times Radio in about twenty minutes!
November 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
in London....going live on Times Radio in about twenty minutes!
wonderful time talking "Tigers Between Empires" at The Museum of Russian Art in #Minneapolis last night! A packed house with a sold out crowd of 144. The book is now on sale and you should buy it
November 8, 2025 at 10:42 PM
wonderful time talking "Tigers Between Empires" at The Museum of Russian Art in #Minneapolis last night! A packed house with a sold out crowd of 144. The book is now on sale and you should buy it
Not even the Minnesota deer opener can get in the way of Tigers Between Empires
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Not even the Minnesota deer opener can get in the way of Tigers Between Empires
Tigers Between Empires is a Pick of the Season at @powells.bsky.social in Portland, Oregon!
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Tigers Between Empires is a Pick of the Season at @powells.bsky.social in Portland, Oregon!
if you're in town this weekend for the Twin Cities Book Festival & are seeking a book event Friday night, come see me talk about magnificent tigers, dirty biologists, & a 700-km wall made of planted trees. All at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis. 7pm start, 6pm tea. Book signing to follow!
November 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
if you're in town this weekend for the Twin Cities Book Festival & are seeking a book event Friday night, come see me talk about magnificent tigers, dirty biologists, & a 700-km wall made of planted trees. All at the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis. 7pm start, 6pm tea. Book signing to follow!
some photos from the launch of Tigers Between Empires earlier this week at The Explorers Club in New York!
November 6, 2025 at 10:59 PM
some photos from the launch of Tigers Between Empires earlier this week at The Explorers Club in New York!
this is tomorrow! If you will be in the Twin Cities would love to see you there. tmora.org/event/an-eve...
#minneapolis #booksky #tiger
#minneapolis #booksky #tiger
November 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
this is tomorrow! If you will be in the Twin Cities would love to see you there. tmora.org/event/an-eve...
#minneapolis #booksky #tiger
#minneapolis #booksky #tiger
my book launch tonight for TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES at @theexplorersclub.bsky.social in New York City is sold out! Hope to see some of you there! The book is in stores tomorrow!!
November 3, 2025 at 2:39 PM
my book launch tonight for TIGERS BETWEEN EMPIRES at @theexplorersclub.bsky.social in New York City is sold out! Hope to see some of you there! The book is in stores tomorrow!!
consistently my favorite house in the neighborhood 🎃
November 1, 2025 at 2:20 AM
consistently my favorite house in the neighborhood 🎃