THE MOUNTAIN READER

The third of a series of nature-writing anthologies published in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy and edited by Murray (Seacoast Reader, not reviewed, etc.).

Recent interest in nature survival stories, many about mountaineering (e.g., Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer, whose essay "Devil's Thumb" is included here), will make this a timely and notable entry into the sometimes indistinct field of nature writing. The inclusion of classics such as Henry David Thoreau's "Ktaadn" and Aldo Leopold's "Thinking Like a Mountain" will satisfy readers looking for a light introduction into the genre. Others, such as "Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevadas" by Clarence King (as in King's Canyon National Park in California), Isabella Byrd's "From a Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains," and "Devil's Thumb," will leave pulses racing with the vicarious experiences of hair-raising excursions attempted by the authors. Barbara Kingsolver's "Infernal Paradise," Debbie Miller's "A Mystery Solved," and the editor's own selection from "Faraway Nearby" spotlight how nature writing can make for a downright entertaining story, and all provide glimpses into the human condition. The side-by-side combination of old and new essays, female and male authors ("A Lady's Life" in particular), and different types of essays (adventure, social commentary, philosophy, science, etc.) ensures a plurality of voices that makes this an accessible and balanced collection. Some selections do seem a bit obligatory and fit poorly within the overall theme (such as William Byrd's "History of the Dividing Line" and William Bartram's "The Travels with William Bartram"), but the cost may be negligible given their role in rounding out the collection.

On the whole, then, a satisfying compendium about mountains and the role they and the outdoors play in human life.