A Private Wilderness: The Journals of Sigurd F. Olson

Sigurd F. Olson's personal diaries, revealing his difficult and inspiring path to finding his voice and becoming a writer, are now available in paperback. These journals describe the dreams and frustrations of an aspiring writer honing his skills, pursuing recognition, and facing doubt while following the academic career that allowed him to live and work. Editor David Backes brings a deep knowledge of the writer to these journals, providing critical context, commentary, and insights along the way. Olson's words remind us of what matters and the hard work and wonder that such a reckoning requires.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2024
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

The personal diaries of one of America's most beloved naturalists, Sigurd F. Olson (1899-1982), are now available in paperback. Olson's journals, written mostly during the years from 1930 to 1941, document the dreams and frustrations of an aspiring writer honing his skills, pursuing recognition, and facing doubt while following the academic career that allowed him to live and work. However, even as he speaks with immediacy and intensity about the conditions of his apprenticeship, Olson can be seen developing the singular way of observing and depicting the natural world that would bring him fame and also alert others to the urgent need to understand and protect that world. Author of Olson's definitive biography, editor David Backes brings a deep knowledge of the writer to these journals, providing critical context, commentary, and insights along the way. When Olson wrote, "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 prove to be. It is propitious that at our present moment, when the world seems once more balanced on the precipice, we have the words of Sigurd F. Olson to remind us of what matters and of the hard work that lies ahead.

Weight: 552g
Dimension: 234 x 157 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517910969