A Private Wilderness paperback

A Private Wilderness: The Journals of Sigurd F. Olson

edited by David Backes

Few writers are as renowned for their eloquence about the natural world, its power and fragility, as Sigurd F. Olson. Before he could give expression to The Singing Wilderness, however, he had to find his own voice. Olson documented this struggle in the journal entries gathered here, written mostly between 1930 and 1941. Editor David Backes, author of Olson’s definitive biography, provides critical insights to accompany Olson’s reflections. When Olson wrote, in the spring of 1941, “ What I am afraid of now is that the world will blow up just as I am getting it organized to suit me,” he could hardly have known how right he would be. At our present moment, when the world seems once more balanced on the precipice, we have his words to remind us of what matters—and of the hard work and the wonder that such a reckoning requires.

pb