This beautifully written and deeply personal collection of essays paints a progressive view of the American West as seen by a geologist. Ellen Wohl traces her twenty years of living and conducting research in the natural landscapes of the West as she investigates the conflict between environmental history and widely held romanticized views of the region. Wohl grew up in Ohio,subscribing to a common perception of the American West as an unchanged frontier. Moving to Arizona,she became enthralled with how the landscapes and ecosystems of the West have undergone change,both through geologic time and during the historical era of European settlement.These essays tell of her early training as a geomorphologist and provide a memorable account of her research in the rivers of the West. As the lessons accrue,Wohl gives us the benefit of her experience and shows how years of studying and living in the Colorado Rockies have enhanced her understanding of landscape change through time.Building on the literary tradition of Joseph Wood Krutch,Terry Tempest Williams,and John McPhee,Wohl provides an up-to-date portrait of the West and brings a new urgency to the call for conservation of the region's land,water,and resources.
MEDIA REVIEWS
Publisher: University of California PressISBN: 9780520257030Weight: 454 gDimensions: 210 x 140 x 33 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
"Wohl writes clearly and with appreciation about the western landscape's rock formations and canyons,while her references to the region's literary and historic canon are equally relevant." Booklist "The intricately detailed book is written in a lolling,peaceful way... (It) reads like a beautiful novel." Deseret News "Geomorphology may not have a mother,but Of Rock and Rivers proves that Ellen Wohl is the field's sharp-eyed daughter." Earth Magazine "This book has all the qualities to make us appreciate even more the riches nature has to offer." - G. Cornelissen-Guillaume The Key Reporter
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