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Original Essays | November 5, 2009

John Buntin: IMG Notes from the (Bibliographic) Underground

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For more than 60 years, Los Angeles's origins, its underbelly, and (yes) its blondes have fueled the imagination of writers and directors from... Continue »
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Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West

by Wallace Stegner

Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In this book Wallace Stegner recounts the successes and frustrations of John Wesley Powell, the distinguished ethnologist and geologist who explored the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon, and the homeland of Indian tribes of the American Southwest. A prophet without honor who had a profound understanding of the American West, Powell warned long ago of the dangers economic exploitation would pose to the West and spent a good deal of his life overcoming Washington politics in getting his message across. Only now, we may recognize just how accurate a prophet he was.

Review:

"This book goes far beyond biography, into the nature of the soul of the American West. It is Stegner at his best, assaying an entire era of our history, packing his pages with insights as shrewd as his prose." Ivan Doig

Review:

"The surrender of self-righteousness would be an enormous boon to the environmental cause. Acknowledging the unedited, complicated, utilitarian John Wesley Powell as an ideological parent would be a big step in that laudable direction, and it is this step that Worster's thorough and empathetic biography makes possible." Los Angeles Times
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About the Author

Wallace Stegner was an enormous presence in the American literary landscape, a man who wrote and lived with ferocity, energy, and integrity.
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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
judi, April 22, 2007 (view all comments by judi)
Stegner is an incomparable writer whatever the given subject, and this factual telling of Powell's exploration of the Colorado river definitely has his touch. The reader is made part of this amazing expedition in which Powell, a one armed veteren of the Civil War, leads a group of family, fellow teachers, and unproven strangers through uncharted territory. They guessed at the type of boat they needed to build in order to withstand the rapids, whirlpools, and constant collision with boulders. They were so strapped for money, surveying equipment, food, and trading goods were meager allowing for no unforseen disasters. Most of the group succeed, but their story is met with derisive comments and disbelief. Back in Washington D.C. Powell is defastated when he finds a modest receptioin and withdrawal of the money he planned to use for another, more extensive exploration.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780140159943
Subtitle:
John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
Author:
Stegner, Wallace
Introduction:
DeVoto, Bernard
Introduction:
De Voto, Bernard Augustine
Author:
DeVoto, Bernard
Author:
Stegner, Wallace Earle
Publisher:
Penguin Books
Location:
New York :
Subject:
Biography
Subject:
History
Subject:
Historical - U.S.
Subject:
United States - 19th Century/Old West
Subject:
Scientists
Subject:
Powell, john wesley, 1834-1902
Subject:
West
Subject:
West (U.S.) History 1890-1945.
Subject:
United States - 19th Century
Subject:
West (U.S.) History.
Subject:
Scientists -- United States -- Biography.
Edition Description:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Series Volume:
46
Publication Date:
March 1992
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
496
Dimensions:
7.79x5.12x.97 in. .74 lbs.
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