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The Cruise of the Corwin: Journal of the Arctic Expedition of 1881
In the spring of 1881, the steamship Thomas Corwin began a daring voyage of 15,000 nautical miles into treacherous Arctic seas to search for captain G. W. De Long and his ship Jeannette, which had left San Francisco two years earlier to drift across the North Pole while trapped in ice. There had been no word from the Jeannette for months. The ship was never found, but John Muir's account of this expedition--which includes vivid descriptions of ice-choked seas, Arctic vegetation, awe-inspiring glaciers, and the native people--captures the magic and mystery of the farthest reaches of the American frontier.
Founder of the Sierra Club and its president until his death, discoverer of Glacier Bay and father of the national park system, John Muir was a spirit so free that all he did to prepare for an expedition was to "throw some tea and bread into an old sack and jump over the back fence." In a world confronting the deterioration of the natural environment and an ever-quickening pace of life, the attraction of Muir's writings has never been greater.
Founder of the Sierra Club and its president until his death, discoverer of Glacier Bay and father of the national park system, John Muir was a spirit so free that all he did to prepare for an expedition was to "throw some tea and bread into an old sack and jump over the back fence." In a world confronting the deterioration of the natural environment and an ever-quickening pace of life, the attraction of Muir's writings has never been greater.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1917
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About the author
John Muir
607 books1,426 followersJohn Muir (1838 – 1914) was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is now one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. One of the best-known hiking trails in the U.S., the 211-mile (340 km) John Muir Trail, was named in his honor. Other such places include Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, John Muir College, Mount Muir, Camp Muir and Muir Glacier.
In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. He is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life.
Muir's biographer, Steven J. Holmes, believes that Muir has become "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity," both political and recreational. As a result, his writings are commonly discussed in books and journals, and he is often quoted by nature photographers such as Ansel Adams. "Muir has profoundly shaped the very categories through which Americans understand and envision their relationships with the natural world," writes Holmes. Muir was noted for being an ecological thinker, political spokesman, and religious prophet, whose writings became a personal guide into nature for countless individuals, making his name "almost ubiquitous" in the modern environmental consciousness. According to author William Anderson, Muir exemplified "the archetype of our oneness with the earth".
Muir was extremely fond of Henry David Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Ralph Waldo Emerson. Muir often referred to himself as a "disciple" of Thoreau. He was also heavily influenced by fellow naturalist John Burroughs.
During his lifetime John Muir published over 300 articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish a number of national parks after he died and today has over 1.3 million members. Author Gretel Ehrlich states that as a "dreamer and activist, his eloquent words changed the way Americans saw their mountains, forests, seashores, and deserts." He not only led the efforts to protect forest areas and have some designated as national parks, but his writings gave readers a conception of the relationship between "human culture and wild nature as one of humility and respect for all life," writes author Thurman Wilkins.
His philosophy exalted wild nature over human culture and civilization. Turner describes him as "a man who in his singular way rediscovered America. . . . an American pioneer, an American hero." Wilkins adds that a primary aim of Muir’s nature philosophy was to challenge mankind’s "enormous conceit," and in so doing, he moved beyond the Transcendentalism of Emerson and Thoreau to a "biocentric perspective on the world."
In the months after his death, many who knew Muir closely wrote about his influences.
In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. He is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life.
Muir's biographer, Steven J. Holmes, believes that Muir has become "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity," both political and recreational. As a result, his writings are commonly discussed in books and journals, and he is often quoted by nature photographers such as Ansel Adams. "Muir has profoundly shaped the very categories through which Americans understand and envision their relationships with the natural world," writes Holmes. Muir was noted for being an ecological thinker, political spokesman, and religious prophet, whose writings became a personal guide into nature for countless individuals, making his name "almost ubiquitous" in the modern environmental consciousness. According to author William Anderson, Muir exemplified "the archetype of our oneness with the earth".
Muir was extremely fond of Henry David Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Ralph Waldo Emerson. Muir often referred to himself as a "disciple" of Thoreau. He was also heavily influenced by fellow naturalist John Burroughs.
During his lifetime John Muir published over 300 articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish a number of national parks after he died and today has over 1.3 million members. Author Gretel Ehrlich states that as a "dreamer and activist, his eloquent words changed the way Americans saw their mountains, forests, seashores, and deserts." He not only led the efforts to protect forest areas and have some designated as national parks, but his writings gave readers a conception of the relationship between "human culture and wild nature as one of humility and respect for all life," writes author Thurman Wilkins.
His philosophy exalted wild nature over human culture and civilization. Turner describes him as "a man who in his singular way rediscovered America. . . . an American pioneer, an American hero." Wilkins adds that a primary aim of Muir’s nature philosophy was to challenge mankind’s "enormous conceit," and in so doing, he moved beyond the Transcendentalism of Emerson and Thoreau to a "biocentric perspective on the world."
In the months after his death, many who knew Muir closely wrote about his influences.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 15, 2023
Was given this as a very fine first edition for my birthday. Interesting to read some of Muir's words for an area outside of the Sierras, if problematic given the descriptions and treatment of the natives they met and traded with during their voyage. Can't help but wonder if the Smithsonian still has the hundreds of skulls collected from burial grounds in their collection . . .
January 13, 2014
A wonderful diary of a fantastic journey. Muir was so far ahead of his time in human rights and conservation, topics that are often discussed in his telling of this exploration of the Artic.
January 4, 2015
Took me a year to get through this one. Pages on pages of descriptions about glaciers and reindeer with a few gems of truth every chapter or two.
March 22, 2021
I really enjoyed every page of this book. It certainly is not for everyone — it takes a special fascination in the Arctic region, peoples, and animals to make it all the way through this book. If that describes you, than this is your book!
It’s a pretty interesting trip, reading this book in 2021, when the narrative is being written in 1881. This really is a tale about a dying people, and dying species, in a land that will be rapidly changing, unbeknownst to it’s author. I found this to be incredibly fascinating and heart breaking all the way throughout.
Many reviewers will say it took them forever to get through it, that it was boring, that it is just an encyclopedia, etc. I found it to be be incredibly compelling, awakening, and life giving. 5/5 recommend!
It’s a pretty interesting trip, reading this book in 2021, when the narrative is being written in 1881. This really is a tale about a dying people, and dying species, in a land that will be rapidly changing, unbeknownst to it’s author. I found this to be incredibly fascinating and heart breaking all the way throughout.
Many reviewers will say it took them forever to get through it, that it was boring, that it is just an encyclopedia, etc. I found it to be be incredibly compelling, awakening, and life giving. 5/5 recommend!
January 13, 2019
This journal of an arctic cruise in the 1870s was a bit hard to read because of the descriptions of exploitation of whales, polar ears, caribou etc by the explorers as well as the indigenous people of the region. It was however a fascinating account of the search for lost whaling ships and John Muir's description of the glaciers and other natural entities
October 29, 2020
The cruise of the Corwin
The notes from this cruise/writer were mainly concerning geological and horticultural findings . It would be interesting reading for those kind of students I think.
The notes from this cruise/writer were mainly concerning geological and horticultural findings . It would be interesting reading for those kind of students I think.
June 18, 2017
John Muirs recounts his Arctic journey and documents a world disappearing before his eyes
December 8, 2015
This is strictly for people with a deep interest in Arctic flora, fauna, geology , and anthropology. There are some interesting vignettes about Arctic whalers and native populations and both sides of the Bering strait, and also Muir's ascent of Siberian mountains, but also many dry passages.
April 6, 2025
I was excited to read this but I was expecting something else. Lots of talk of plants and glaciers.
Very dry to read
Very dry to read
April 30, 2017
A wonderful window into the world of John Muir.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews