This American River: Five Centuries of Writing About the Connecticut

A written portrait of one of the nation's most important rivers features writing about the river that spans five hundred years and includes contributions by Henry David Thoreau, Charles Dickins, Mark Twain, Wallace Stevens, and others. (Literature) Read more Continue reading Read less FROM LIBRARY JOURNAL
Probably for as long as any human society has lived in any given locale, people have told stories about its rivers. The American tradition of nature writing about rivers, as exemplified by this anthology, began almost as soon as Europeans settled the continent. The Connecticut has been a vital element in the history and ecology of New England, and, in that regard, the editor suggests that it is a uniquely "American" river. The contributions to this volume include guides, reports, travelogs, poetry, natural histories, and other genres. Unlike many anthologies, this one is not arranged chronologically but rather in 12 somewhat loosely defined thematic sections: "Early Travelers," "On the River," "The Classic Guides," and so forth. Some notable contributors include Henry David Thoreau, Charles Dickens, Sylvia Plath, and environmentalist Bill McKibben, although most are historical figures whose names will be unfamiliar to lay readers. For libraries in New England and specialized historic/environmental collections.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. FROM THE PUBLISHER
6 x 9 trim. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
W.D. WETHERELL is the author of fourteen books, including the novels Morning (2001) , The Wisest Man in America (UPNE, 1995) , and Chekhov's Sister (1990) , and also Wherever That Great Heart May Be: Stories (UPNE, 1996) and The River Trilogy (Vermont River, Upland Stream, and One River More, 1985-1988) . He is the holder of the Strauss Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and letters; his writing on travel appears fequently in The New York Times. Wetherell lives with his family near the banks of the Connecticut in the riverside town of Lyme, New Hampshire, where he is active in local and regional efforts to protect the river. Read more Continue reading Read less