‘How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! To behold this alone is worth the pains of any excursion a thousand times over.’John Muir is known internationally for his dedication to protecting the environment and for founding The Sierra Club in 1892. His first book, as Muir authority Terry Gifford writes in the foreword, ‘became the bible of the fledgling Sierra Club, which is now a major national environmental activists’ organisation with branches in every corner of America’.The Mountains of California not only details Muir’s visits to the magnificent mountains along the Sierra Nevada Range, which he affectionately calls ‘The Range of Light’, but also the stunning glaciers, forests and landscapes that he encounters: ‘Climbing higher, I saw for the first time the gradual dwarfing of the pines in compliance with climate … patches of the dwarf vaccinium with its round flowers sprinkled in the grass like purple hail; while in every direction the landscape stretched sublimely away in fresh wildness: a manuscript written by the hand of nature alone.’Throughout the book, Muir’s philosophy of nature’s ability to soothe and amaze is evident. He heart-warmingly discusses at length how his encounters with animals, such as the Douglas squirrel, cheered him so. This is a truly beautiful read; Muir’s writing, embedded with emotion, wit, and at times, humour, will never fail to speak to his reader.The enthusiasm contained within these pages is infectious, and as well as making a powerful read, Muir will inspire you, too, to ‘come and see’ the innumerable delights that nature can offer:’The best words only hint at [California’s] charms. Come to the mountains and see.’
Circa l’autore
Terry Gifford is a rock climber, author and editor of poetry and academic books on the subject of literature and the environment, with titles including The Joy of Climbing, The Rope, Pastoral and the complete works of John Muir in two volumes: John Muir: The Eight Wilderness-Discovery Books and John Muir: His Life and Letters and Other Writings. He was founding director of the annual International Festival of Mountaineering Literature for twenty-one years, and is former chair of the Mountain Heritage Trust. Today he is visiting scholar at Bath Spa University’s Centre for Writing and Environment and professor honorifico at the University of Alicante in Spain.
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