Guardians of the Valley Guardians of the Valley

Guardians of the Valley

John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite

    • 4.5 • 4 Ratings
    • $11.99
    • $11.99

Publisher Description

* “We see through this book the immense power of language…to change the minds of lawmakers and tourists alike.” —The New York Times Book Review * “A poignant portrait of an era when mere words could change the world.” —San Francisco Chronicle *

The dramatic and uplifting story of legendary outdoorsman and conservationist John Muir’s journey to save Yosemite is “a rich, enjoyable excursion into a seminal period in environmental history” (The Wall Street Journal).

In June of 1889 in San Francisco, John Muir—iconic environmentalist, writer, and philosopher—meets face-to-face for the first time with his longtime editor Robert Underwood Johnson, an elegant and influential figure at The Century magazine. Before long, the pair, opposites in many ways, decide to venture to Yosemite Valley, the magnificent site where twenty years earlier, Muir experienced a personal and spiritual awakening that would set the course of the rest of his life.

Upon their arrival the men are confronted with a shocking vision, as predatory mining, tourism, and logging industries have plundered and defaced “the grandest of all the special temples of Nature.” While Muir is devastated, Johnson, an arbiter of the era’s pressing issues in the pages of the nation’s most prestigious magazine, decides that he and Muir must fight back. The pact they form marks a watershed moment, leading to the creation of Yosemite National Park, and launching an environmental battle that captivates the nation and ushers in the beginning of the American environmental movement.

“Comprehensively researched and compellingly readable” (Booklist, starred review), Guardians of the Valley is a moving story of friendship, the written word, and the transformative power of nature. It is also a timely and powerful “origin story” as the towering environmental challenges we face today become increasingly urgent.

GENRE
Science & Nature
RELEASED
2023
March 21
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
480
Pages
PUBLISHER
Scribner
SELLER
Simon & Schuster Digital Sales LLC
SIZE
83.7
MB

Customer Reviews

Dad Gray ,

Guardians of the Valley

Another King classic. Incredibly well researched and well written, Guardians is an entertaining education about the history of the origins of our country’s conservation movement and a lesson on the need for constant vigilance to maintain our beautiful spaces. I especially enjoyed the insights into Muir’s relationships not just with Johnson, but Roosevelt and Emerson also. I can’t wait to go back and hike in Yosemite and the Tuolumne Meadows!

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