Research Catalog

Title

DeVoto's West : history, conservation, and the public good / Bernard DeVoto ; edited by Edward K. Muller.

Author

De Voto, Bernard, 1897-1955.

Publication

Athens, Ohio : Swallow Press/Ohio University Press, c2005.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Muller, Edward K.

Description

xxxv, 275 p.; 23 cm.

Summary

Social commentator and preeminent western historian Bernard DeVoto vigorously defended public lands in the West against commercial interests. By the time of his death in 1955, DeVoto had published criticism, history, and fiction. He had won both the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes. But his most passionate writing--at once incisive and eloquent--advocated conservation of America's prairies, rangeland, forests, mountains, canyons, and deserts. This collection showcases the complexity, depth, and breadth of DeVoto's thinking. These essays (many of which originally appeared in the renowned Harper's column The Easy Chair) persuasively advocate stewardship of public land. DeVoto addressed the plundering of resources by absentee eastern corporations, westerners' conflicted relationship with the forces of exploitation, and the degradation of the national parks.--From publisher description.

Subject

• Environmental protection > West (U.S.)
• Conservation of natural resources > West (U.S.)
• Public lands > West (U.S.)
• Common good
• Environmental degradation > West (U.S.)
• West (U.S.) > Environmental conditions
• West (U.S.) > History
• West (U.S.) > Description and travel

Note

• "Published in association with the Center for American Places Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Staunton, Virginia."
• "DeVoto's West collects twenty-two of DeVoto's essays on the American West and convervation issues"--Introd.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-267) and index.

Contents

[Pt.]1. DeVoto's West: Footnote on the West (1927) ; Fossil remnants of the frontier (1935) ; The West : a plundered province (1934) ; The anxious West (1946) ; The high country (1952) -- [Pt.] 2. The Western land grab, 1940s: The West against itself (1947) ; The western land grab (1947) ; U.S. Forest Service and the western land grab (1948) ; Sacred cows and public lands (1948) ; Statesmen on the lam (1948) -- [Pt.] 3. Desert, water, and the West: The West (1947) ; Flood in the desert (1952) ; Our hundred year plan (1950) ; And fractions drive me mad (1954) -- [Pt.] 4. Protection of the National Parks: National Park Service (1949) ; Shall we let them ruin our National Parks? (1950) ; Let's close the National Parks (1953) ; Intramural giveaway (1954) -- [Pt.] 5. The Western land grab, 1950s: Two-gun Desmond is back (1951) ; An old steal refurbished (1952) ; Conservation : down and on the way out (1954) ; One-way partnership derailed (1955).

Call Number

IX 07-4978

ISBN

• 0804010722 (cloth : acid-free paper)
• 9780804010726 (cloth : acid-free paper)
• 0804010730 (pbk. : acid-free paper)
• 9780804010733 (pbk. : acid-free paper)

LCCN

2004028391

OCLC

57211070

Author

De Voto, Bernard, 1897-1955.

Title

DeVoto's West : history, conservation, and the public good / Bernard DeVoto ; edited by Edward K. Muller.

Imprint

Athens, Ohio : Swallow Press/Ohio University Press, c2005.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-267) and index.

Connect to:

Table of contents

Added Author

Muller, Edward K.

Research Call Number

IX 07-4978