George Frazier (1)

The Last Wild Places of Kansas is an eloquently written search for needles in a haystack. And whether those needles are prized diamonds in the rough or just, er, needles depends on how fascinated you are by pre- to early-European Kansas history and/or Kansas' minimalist natural landscape.

Right at the start the author points out a mildly shocking fact, but one that upon further reflection shouldn't be too surprising: 98% of Kansas is privately owned. The highest percentage of any state. show more That's a lot of flat, empty non-public space. This kind of makes sense if you're familiar with the area. On one hand you have a rural landscape of farmers, ranchers and all the by-the-bootstraps cultural ethos that goes along with it. On the other hand, what few distinct natural locations there are lack the requisite mass appeal that tends to invite state or federal preservation.

This is a long-winded way of saying these 'hidden landscapes' might not be all that interesting to most people. It's especially true if you can't claim a personal connection to Kansas. If you're still on the fence, give the book a try. The writing alone is exceptional. The author has a gift for prose. show less