George Melendez Wright

Reviews / Votes

"In George Melendez Wright: The Fight for Wildlife and Wilderness in the National Parks, Emory grants Wright the well-deserved credit he is due. Part biography, part historical account, the book reads like a love letter to Wright." -- Lindsey Botts * Sierra, "5 Must-Read Books for Your Spring Reading List" * "Emory's enumeration of Wright's accomplishments-including a survey of wildlife in Western parks, the first of its kind-is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Emory, who is married to one of Wright's granddaughters, has succeeded admirably in demonstrating the continuing relevance of Wright's ideas and the value of his legacy. Highly recommended for nature lovers and park enthusiasts." * Library Journal * "Although Wright died in a car accident at age thirty-one, his fervor for our national parks and substantial achievements in furthering conservation biology left a lasting legacy and are a testament to how full and influential a short life can be." * Booklist * "Emory has in this book brought the remarkable story of George Melendez Wright out of the shadows of national park history. It is a story of brilliance, vision, tragedy, and missed opportunity. . . . This book is an informative, thoroughly researched, and readable account of a remarkable man of historic importance." * National Parks Traveler * "Emory has in this book brought the remarkable story of George Melendez Wright out of the shadows of national park history. It is a story of brilliance, vision, tragedy, and missed opportunity. . . . This book is an informative, thoroughly researched, and readable account of a remarkable man of historic importance." * Rewilding Earth * "Almost a century after his death, a dedicated young biologist remains a role model for conservationists." * Stanford Magazine * "One of the most influential people ever to work for the National Park Service. . . . Wright was [also] the first Hispanic employee to hold a professional position with the Park Service, and Emory's book details his background, training and impact, providing the reader with insights into the life of one of least known heroes in the era of modern conservation." * National Parks Conservation Association, "Your Winter Reading List for Exploring Parks and U.S. History" * "The National Park Service has many unsung heroes, and George Melendez Wright is in the top tier. In this book, conservation writer Emory documents how Wright was responsible for the first wildlife policy handbook developed for the NPS. . . . Emory's text is illustrated with black-and-white photos; interspersed throughout are short quotes primarily from Wright's work but also from friends and others involved in the reformulation of wildlife policy. Anyone interested in the history and evolution of the national parks and the National Park Service will find this book a good read. Highly recommended." * Choice * "Emory's account is a captivating tale of individual passion that fills an important gap in the historical literature on conservation." * Montana: The Magazine of Western History * "Emory is to be commended for writing this biography and helping to bring Wright's life and work to light. Both a general audience and specialists interested in conservation and its history, like environmental historians, will find lots to take away from this book." * H-Environment * "Jerry Emory's engrossing George Melendez Wright brings to light an untold story. That story is the biography of Wright, who was not only 'the first Hispanic to occupy a professional position in the National Park Service (NPS)' but also
'the father of scientific research and resource management' at the NPS. . . . Emory's remarkable book adds important threads to two tapestries: the history of the early days of the NPS and the history of wildlife biology in the United States." * Natural Resources & Environment * "To those of us who have worked in conservation, and especially in the National Park Service, as I did for forty years, George Melendez Wright is a hero, icon, and role model. His story deserves to be told, and Emory has done that well. It will inspire readers to lives in service to conservation of the planet upon which we all depend." -- Jonathan B. Jarvis, eighteenth director of the National Park Service, coauthor of "The Future of Conservation in America" and "National Parks Forever" "George Melendez Wright was a pivotal figure--pushing the vision of parks from scenic tourist spots to crucial sites for the preservation of the natural world. This remarkable, vibrant history fills a large gap in our understanding of--and appreciation for--a person who left a lasting legacy." -- Dayton Duncan, writer/producer of "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" "George Melendez Wright cuts a remarkable figure in the history of American conservation: keen and patient observer of nature, acute scientist, skillful navigator of politics, passionate advocate for national parks, bilingual emissary to Spanish-speaking colleagues, poetic writer, and, above all, ecological visionary ahead of his time. He was also a generous and well-loved friend to many, which is why his accidental death at a young age was felt so acutely. Emory's telling of Wright's story superbly captures the full-to-the-brim life of this underappreciated pioneer of nature protection. Capitalizing on exclusive access to a trove of personal field journals and other papers, as well as archival research, Emory's own prose sings with the spirit of George Melendez Wright and leaves us inspired to carry on his work in our own time." -- David Harmon, executive director of the George Wright Society