Deep Map Country : Literary Cartography of the Great Plains

Taking its name from the subtitle of William Least Heat-Moon’s __PrairyErth (a deep map)__, the “deep-map” form of nonfiction and environmental writing defines an innovative and stratigraphic literary genre. Proposing that its roots can be found in Great Plains nonfiction writing, Susan Naramore Maher explores the many facets of this vital form of critique, exploration, and celebration that weaves together such elements of narrative as natural history, cultural history, geography, memoir, and intertextuality.Maher’s __Deep Map Country__ gives readers the first book-length study of the deep-map nonfiction of the Great Plains region, featuring writers as diverse as Julene Bair, Sharon Butala, Loren Eiseley, Don Gayton, Linda Hasselstrom, William Least Heat-Moon, John Janovy Jr., John McPhee, Kathleen Norris, and Wallace Stegner. __Deep Map Country__ examines the many layers of storytelling woven into their essays: the deep time of geology and evolutionary biology; the cultural history of indigenous and settlement communities; the personal stories of encounters with this expansive terrain; the political and industrial stories that have affected the original biome and Plains economies; and the spiritual dimensions of the physical environment that press on everyday realities. Taking Its Name From The Subtitle Of William Least Heat-moon's Prairyerth (a Deep Map), The Deep-map Form Of Nonfiction And Environmental Writing Defines An Innovative And Stratigraphic Literary Genre. Proposing That Its Roots Can Be Found In Great Plains Nonfiction Writing, Susan Naramore Maher Explores The Many Facets Of This Vital Form Of Critique, Exploration, And Celebration That Weaves Together Such Elements Of Narrative As Natural History, Cultural History, Geography, Memoir, And Intertextuality. Maher's Deep Map Country Gives Readers The First Book-length Study Of The Deep-map Nonfiction Of The Great Plains Region, Featuring Writers As Diverse As Julene Bair, Sharon Butala, Loren Eiseley, Don Gayton, Linda Hasselstrom, William Least Heat-moon, John Janovy Jr., John Mcphee, Kathleen Norris, And Wallace Stegner. Deep Map Country Examines The Many Layers Of Storytelling Woven Into Their Essays: The Deep Time Of Geology And Evolutionary Biology; The Cultural History Of Indigenous And Settlement Communities; The Personal Stories Of Encounters With This Expansive Terrain; The Political And Industrial Stories That Have Affected The Original Biome And Plains Economies; And The Spiritual Dimensions Of The Physical Environment That Press On Everyday Realities. -- Scholarly Study Of Great Plains Nonfiction Writers In The Genre Of Deep Mapping, A Genre That Weaves Together Strata Of Narrative That Includes Natural History, Cultural History, Geography, Memoir, And Inter-textual Material-- 1 Deep Mapping The Great Plains: Surveying The Literary Cartography Of Place 1 -- 2 Deep Mapping History: Wallace Stegner's Wolf Willow And William Least Heat-moon's Prairyerth: (a Deep Map) 35 -- 3 Deep Mapping The Biome: The Biology Of Place In Don Gayton's The Wheatgrass Mechanism, John Janovy Jr.'s Dunwoody Pond, And Wes Jackson's Becoming Native To This Place 71 -- 4 Deep Mapping Dimensions: Excavating Time And Space In Loren Eiseley's The Immense Journey And John Mcphee's Rising From The Plains 105 -- 5 Deep Mapping Lived Space: Layers Of Presence In Julene Bair's One Degree West, Sharon Butala's Wild Stone Heart, And Linda Hasselstrom's Feels Like Far 138 -- 6 Coda: Spiritual Deep Mapping And Great Plains Vernacular 169. Susan Naramore Maher. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Proposing that its roots can be found in Great Plains nonfiction writing, this book explores the many facets of this vital form of critique, exploration, and celebration that weaves together such elements of narrative as natural history, cultural history, geography, memoir, and intertextuality. "Scholarly study of Great Plains nonfiction writers in the genre of "deep mapping", a genre that weaves together strata of narrative that includes natural history, cultural history, geography, memoir, and inter-textual material"-- Provided by publisher