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A review by cody240fc
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West by Bernard DeVoto, Wallace Stegner
4.0
This should have been much more boring than it was. Other than Part I, which covers Powell's exploration of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, the majority of this book centers on Powell's career leading the US Geological Survey. In that role, Powell essentially held the ultimate power in determining how the West would be opened up to settlement. The second half of this book covers his futile struggle with politicians who fought against his general plan.
Why is this such an interesting read? Stegner's dry wit and powerful writing are on full display, and his passion for the West bleeds through the passages. He is not afraid to attack those disillusioned optimists who supported blind homesteading (Sam Adams, Gilpin and Stewart are particularly lambasted) and Stegner clearly believes that Powell was on the right track. This is not an objective work, and Stegner does not attempt to make it seem so. He is a Powell supporter and wants to make it clear that Powell is a forgotten name who deserves remembering.
Informative and well written. Excellent read.
Why is this such an interesting read? Stegner's dry wit and powerful writing are on full display, and his passion for the West bleeds through the passages. He is not afraid to attack those disillusioned optimists who supported blind homesteading (Sam Adams, Gilpin and Stewart are particularly lambasted) and Stegner clearly believes that Powell was on the right track. This is not an objective work, and Stegner does not attempt to make it seem so. He is a Powell supporter and wants to make it clear that Powell is a forgotten name who deserves remembering.
Informative and well written. Excellent read.