Nature Writing

by Scheese,Don

• ISBN13: 9780415938891
• ISBN10: 0415938899
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2002-10-04
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

In this comprehensive study of the genre, Don Scheese traces its evolution from the pastoralism evident in the natural history observations of Aristotle and the poetry of Virgil to current American writers. He documents the emergence of the modern form of nature writing as a reaction to industrialization. Scheese's personal observations of natural settings sharpen the reader's understanding of the dynamics between author and locale. His study is further informed by ample use of illustrations and close readings core writers such as Thoreau, John Muir, and Mary Austin showing how each writer's work exemplifies the pastoral tradition and celebrate a "spirit of place" in the United States.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Chronology	xvii
Overview	1	(38)
Walden, Ktaadn, and Walking	39	(22)
My First Summer in the Sierra	61	(14)
The Land of Little Rain	75	(15)
A Sand County Almanac	90	(16)
Desert Solitaire	106	(14)
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek	120	(13)
Conclusion	133	(4)
Bibliographic Essay	137	(30)
Recommended Titles	167	(16)
Notes and References	183	(40)
Index	223