
Natural State
A Literary Anthology of California Nature Writing
Steven Gilbar(Editor)
University of California Press
1st Edition
Published on 28. April 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-0-520-21209-1 (ISBN)
Description
This is the first anthology of nature writing that celebrates California, the most geographically diverse state in the union. Readers - be they naturalists or armchair explorers - will find themselves transported to California's many wild places in the company of forty noted writers whose works span more than a century. Divided into sections on California's mountains, hills and valleys, deserts, coast, and elements (earth, wind, and fire), the book contains essays, diary entries, and excerpts from larger works, including fiction. As a prelude to the collection, editor Steven Gilbar presents two California Indian creation myths, one a Cahto narrative and the other an A-juma-wi story as told by Darryl Babe Wilson. Familiar names appear in these pages - John Muir, Robert Louis Stevenson, John McPhee, M.F.K. Fisher, Gretel Ehrlich - but less familiar writers such as Daniel Duane, Margaret Millar, and John McKinney are also included. Among the gems in this treasure trove are Jack Kerouac on climbing Mt. Matterhorn, Barry Lopez on snow geese migration at Tule Lake, Edward Abbey on Death Valley, Henry Miller on Big Sur, and Joan Didion on the Santa Ana winds.
Gary Snyder's inspiring Afterword reflects the spirit of environmentalism that runs throughout the book. "Natural State" also reveals the many changes to California's landscape that have occurred in geological time and in human terms. More than a book of 'nature writing', this book is superb writing about nature.
Gary Snyder's inspiring Afterword reflects the spirit of environmentalism that runs throughout the book. "Natural State" also reveals the many changes to California's landscape that have occurred in geological time and in human terms. More than a book of 'nature writing', this book is superb writing about nature.
More details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Berkerley
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
544 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-520-21209-1 (9780520212091)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
04/1998
1st Edition
Naval Institute Press
€29.99
Available for download
Persons
Steven Gilbar lives in Santa Barbara and does not get to spend as much time in the wilderness as he would like. His previous anthologies include Tales of Santa Barbara (1994) and Red Tiles, Blue Skies (1996).