Overview

The dramatic and uplifting story of legendary outdoorsman and conservationist John Muir's journey to become the man who saved Yosemite--from the author of the bestselling Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival.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 consumed by grief, Johnson, a champion of society's most pressing debates via 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. Beautifully rendered, deeply researched, and inspiring, 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 toweringly complex environmental challenges we face today become increasingly urgent.

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9781797152219

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Reviews

""A rich, enjoyable excursion into a seminal period in environmental history."" -- ""Wall Street Journal"" ""Makes for an enjoyable joint biography."" -- ""Nature"" ""Very worth reading."" -- ""National Parks Traveler"" ""Will entrance park lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and California history buffs, the narrative swept along by Muir's shimmering, deftly excerpted prose."" -- ""Los Angeles Times"" ""Writer Dean King...craft[s] prose as absorbing as one of Muir's articles in the Century."" -- ""Natural History Magazine""

Author Information

Dean King is the author of the national bestseller Skeletons on the Zahara. He has written for many publications, including Men's Journal, Esquire, Garden & Gun, Granta, Outside, New York Magazine, and the New York Times. He lives in Richmond, Virginia. Samantha Desz is a classically trained narrator, voice artist, and actor who has extensive theater and long-form voiceover-project experience. Passionate about learning about different cultures and lifestyles, she has lived in many places across the United States as well as in London and currently calls the Midwest home.

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