Éric Chevillard spends a night in the Hall of Extinct and Endangered Species at France's National Museum for Natural History in Paris.

The museum is a frightening, exotic place, more than conducive to writing. Between wanderings and contemplations, Chevillard imagines himself a savior of these lost worlds. He encourages us to reflect on these extinct species and the conservation of the human race, raising a question at the heart of modern-day concerns: what is our place on this earth, and our relationship with nature and other animals? Chevillard claims that "When it comes to resuscitating lost species, wouldn’t it be wiser to put our faith in poetry rather than the uncertainties of cloning?"

With its sublime writing, this book takes an inventive look at preserving threatened species.