“But if every American is several people, and one of them is or would like to be a placed person, another is the opposite, the displaced person, cousin not to Thoreau but to Daniel Boone, dreamer not of Walden Ponds but of far horizons, traveler not in Concord but in wild unsettled places, explorer not inward but outward.”

This beautiful book spans topics as vast, varied, and grand as the West itself. Western history, literature, landscape, and character are discussed in superb detail. Wallace summons images and meanings of the West in the heart of this Westerner that are now permanently a part of my own internal landscape. His ability to capture the spirit of what it means to be of and in the West is unparalleled. I loved every moment that I spent with this book and found it nearly perfect. ( )

This is a beautifully written collection of essays that contain Stegners reflections on his craft, other writers and a landscape that he and I both love. Stegner is the Dean of Western American literature and mentored numerous other famous writers through the creative writing program at Stanford. He is above all a man of consummate integrity with a love of nature that shines through in his writing. I keep a copy of this book in my place in the Eastern Sierra and continually dip into it. ( )

If Wallace Stegner had never published a book, we would still lionize him as the father of modern American Western Lit, for his work at Stanford's creative writing program, which produced such greats a Thomas McGuane, Larry McMurtry, and Wendell Berry, to name just a few. But he did write two Great Novels, as well as incredibly thoughtful and articulate essays. Here is a collection of his essays, which range from Outdoor writing, to his reflections on modern literature. If you like Wendell Berry, this book is a great chance to hear from the man who helped Wendell get his chops. This is a great book for times when you read in bits and pieces. The essays are non-related, and you can jump around and pick and chose as you enjoy them.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the art of a good essay, outdoor writing, or literary reflections. There is also a bit of autobiography here. ( )