Words from the Land: Encounters With Natural History Writing

by Stephen Trimble

Gathers essays by Annie Dillard, John McPhee, Edward Hoagland, Peter Matthiessen, and Barry Lopez

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Natural History, Essays, Collections, Writing, History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1988

About the author

As writer, editor, and photographer, Stephen Trimble has published 25 award-winning books during 45 years of paying attention to the landscapes and peoples of the Desert West. He’s received The Sierra Club's Ansel Adams Award for photography and conservation and a Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater, Colorado College. In 2019, he was honored as one of Utah’s 15 most influential artists.

Trimble speaks and writes as a conservation advocate and has taught writing at the University of Utah. He makes his home in Salt Lake City and in the redrock country of Torrey, Utah. Environmental historian James Aton has said: Trimble's books comprise one of the most well-rounded, sustained, and profound visions of people and landscape that we have ever seen in the American West.

Reviews

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection held several very good essays, mostly toward the beginning of the book. Many other essays, despite having been written by famed authors, left me wanting less.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and I love the subject matter.

[Diane B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology is good company! Bought it in a small independent bookstore in Hawaii (the most Western independent bookstore in the USA). Full of wisdom and fantastic writing, and perfect reading next to the majestic crashing surf.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of great pieces in the book and some that are just good. My main issue with reading through the book is that there wasn't a lot really pulling me through the entire book, so it was easy to set down for long periods.