"This is a
profoundly perceptive and
beautifully written book that sheds
tremendous insights on Alaska and is a
must-read for anyone who wants a deeper, richer
understanding of America's last
frontier "—Deborah Williams, executive director, Alaska Conservation Foundation
"With heart and soul, The Harriman Alaska Expedition Retraced both helps us see the beauty of the earth's ecosystems and confronts the difficult realities surrounding their use. . . . Through science, art, and the poet's words, [this book] urges us toward a sustainable use of our environment."—Gretchen C. Daily, coauthor The New Economy of Nature
"The Harriman Alaska Expedition Retraced takes us across 100 years of Alaskan and American history, showing us the magnificence and vulnerability of our vast wilderness coastline."—Jay Hammond, governor of Alaska, 1974-1982
"A guide to America's soul, the boundless beauty of Alaska, and the ways in which people have related to it over the years, this book should be of interest to a very wide readership."—Peter H. Raven, Missouri Botanical Garden
"[A] unique and valuable perspective of a century of dramatic change in Alaska."—Tony Knowles, governor of Alaska, 1994-2002
"A fitting and fascinating capstone for a remarkable sequel to an extraordinary adventure."—Maury Klein, author of The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman
"A little like entering a time warp, [this book] provides a special chance to explore the present through the comparative lens of the past."—Stephen Kellert, author of The Value of Life: Biological Diversity and Human Society and coauthor of The Biophilia Hypothesis
Over time, Alaska has become synonymous with the idea of wilderness—nature, free and unspoiled. Yet while the concept of this open, untamed countryside—the "land of the midnight sun"—has a romantic appeal, the reality is quite different and often much more severe.
This book reveals hard facts, challenges simple assumptions, and transforms Alaska from a wistful idea to a real place with its own changing ecology, economies, society, and values. It includes essays by the group of scientists, writers, and artists who made an expedition to Alaska in 2001, tracing the historic route of railroad baron Edward H. Harriman's ambitious journey in 1899. Together, the group visited the diverse cultures, communities, and ecosystems of Alaska. In their accounts, they share their conversations with mayors, teachers, tribal leaders and elders, children, business owners, and conservationists in order to present Alaska as it is, not simply as a fantasy on airport posters and in tourism brochures.
Following the ship's route, the book addresses wilderness conservation biology and ecology, American history, natural history and anthropology, and travel and exploration. More specific topics include the repatriation of Native objects; tourism; forestry, fisheries, and marine mammals; John Muir's notion of beauty; the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on Prince William Sound; and possibilities for a sustainable future in Alaska and around the world.
Lavishly illustrated with gorgeous color and black-and-white photographs and prints, The Harriman Alaska Expedition Retraced is an ambitious exploration of America's last frontier..
Price: $16.49
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