Natural State : A Literary Anthology of California Nature Writing

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. Cahto Myth: The Creation -- Grampa Ramsey And The Great Canyon / Darryl Babe Wilson -- An Elk Hunt / Joaquin Miller -- Ramblings In Yosemite / Joseph Leconte -- Lake Tahoe / Mark Twain -- Climbing Matterhorn Peak / Jack Kerouac -- A Mount For All Seasons / Harold Gilliam -- Trumpets Of Light / Ann Zwinger -- The Fourth Dimension / David Rains Wallace -- Climbing Half Dome / Daniel Duane -- Into The Valley / William H. Brewer -- The Sea Fogs / Robert Louis Stevenson -- On Sonoma Mountain / Jack London -- Flight / John Steinbeck -- Spirits Of The Valley / M.f.k. Fisher -- A Reflection On White Geese / Barry Lopez -- In Condor Country / David Darlington -- Winter's Fog / David Mas Masumoto -- A Vanishing Land / Hildegarde Flanner -- Remnants / Wallace Stegner -- Desert Walking / John Daniel -- Death Valley / Edward Abbey -- Overlooking Carrizo Gorge / Susan Zwinger -- The Palms In Our Hands / Gary Paul Nabhan -- Gaviota Coast Trails / J. Smeaton Chase -- Where The Mountains Meet The Sea / Lawrence Clark Powell -- Big Sur / Henry Miller -- The Sundown Sea / T.h. Watkins -- A Certain Moment / Russell Chatham -- Tapping The Source / Kem Nunn -- Santa Rosa / Gretel Ehrlich -- Lost Coast / John Mckinney -- Continental Drift / James D. Houston -- The San Andreas Discrepancy / John Mcphee -- A Wind-storm In The Forest / John Muir -- The Santa Ana / Joan Didion -- Nurslings Of The Sky / Mary Austin -- The Storm / Jane Hollister Wheelwright -- After The Fire / Margaret Millar -- Afterword: Coming Into The Watershed / Gary Snyder. Selected And Edited By Steven Gilbar ; With A Foreword By David Brower. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 369-373). An anthology of nature writing that celebrates California, the most geographically diverse state in the union. It contains sections on California's mountains, hills and valleys, deserts, coast, and elements (earth, wind, and fire). It also contains essays, diary entries, and excerpts from larger works, including fiction. Serves as an anthology of nature writing that celebrates California, the geographically diverse state. Divided into sections on California's mountains, hills and valleys, deserts, coast, and elements (earth, wind, and fire), this book contains essays, diary entries, and excerpts from larger works, including fiction. This first anthology of nature writing celebrates California, the most geographically diverse state in the union. Readers--whether naturalists or armchair explorers--will find themselves transported to California's many wild places in the company of 40 noted writers whose works span more than a century