 Across
the Snowy Ranges by fazio, venso and russel
review by lucas
grubbs
capturing the essence
and entirety of the lewis and clark expedition in written or pictoral
form is as difficult a process as the original expedition itself.
but with the release of Across the Snowy Ranges, another
impressive step is taken toward keeping this remarkable and important
piece of american history in our present consciousness.
perhaps the success of this work lies in author james r.
fazio’s focus on the idaho and montana leg of the expedition.
with the forthcoming celebrations of the lewis and clark journey
in sight, this is an important and valuable reference tool for any
scholar or armchair historian of the events that opened up the western
united states. the pages of
Across the Snowy Ranges are filled with dazzling photographs by mike
venso as well as beautifully drawn maps by steve f. russel of the places
meriwether lewis, william clark and the corps of discovery trekked by on
their arduous journey. Across
the Snowy Ranges also includes genuine excerpts from the lewis and clark
journals, though the main focus is expressed through the authors
interpretation of the events, giving the reader a thoughtful and
narrative style of history. a
hardbound jewel of sight and thrilling historical writing, Across the
Snowy Ranges is sure to please those familiar with the history of the
expedition while enlightening and exciting those new to the story.
this is a remarkable and clear documentation of an essential part
of the american experience and is sure to be treasured by all.
2001.
204 pp. hardcover. $29.95.
Written
on Water: Essays on Idaho
Rivers edited
by mary clearman-blew
review
by mary abshire
a compendium of thoughts on idaho rivers by idaho writers, this
book is as varied in its voices, moods and colors as the very rivers
about which it speaks. Written on Water is an idaho humanities council
book, edited by mary clearman blew, author of Bone Deep in Landscape and
other books.
though, by request of the
editor, the book has “no particular theme, no set direction, certainly
no political agenda,” readers will find that the themes and directions
in these essays prove that rivers in idaho are of personal import; the
eloquence of these idaho writers sings the rivers in narrative.
from the rare and wise words
of horace axtell to joy passanante’s traitorous confession of the
Mississippi as her first river-love, all the writers allowed the river
to carry them into memory. for any idahoan who has loved the rivers of
idaho, this is essential reading.
2001.
229pp. paperback. $14.95
Glacial
Lake Missoula and its Humongous Floods by
david alt
review
by bob greene
the inland empire, as eastern washington and north idaho is
known, came about by several geological factors. one was the collapse of
glacial lake missoula. this book is the story behind the scientific
controversy over this event.
alt has written several books on geology, including the Roadside
Geology of Idaho, Washington and Oregon. for more background, check out
Cataclysms on the Columbia by john allen.
2001.
208 pp. paperback. $15.00.
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