A Wilderness Original: The Life of Bob Marshall

By James M. Glover

Book Overview

Details Marshall's rich legacy of inspiration and challenge Marshall's pioneering efforts and ideas marked the beginning of the National Wilderness Preservation System Each year thousands of travelers visit the Bob Montana's vast Bob Marshall Wilderness. Few, however, know much about the gentle, funny, enormously energetic, and extraordinarily effective man for whom the wilderness is named. Marshall was born into a prominent, wealthy New York family, yet early on he showed himself to be more at home in the wild than in the city. Educated at Syracuse, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins, Marshall used his technical knowledge of forestry, enormous personal charm, and boundless energy to persuade the nation to set aside at least a fraction of its remaining wilderness. Marshall is also famous for his early Alaska explorations, described in his best selling books Arctic Village and Alaska Wilderness . When Marshall died in 1939, at age 38, presumably of heart failure, the conservation movement lost one of its most persuasive, influential, and endearing spokesmen. This book, the first full-length biography of Marshall, is a thoughtful portrait of a man whose accomplishments will be discussed and written about as long as Americans care about their priceless natural heritage.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898861225
• ISBN13: 9780898861228
• Release Date: April 1986
• Publisher: The Mountaineers
• Length: 324 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

A Wilderness Original

Interesting biography of environmental activist Bob Marshall. Marshall was not exactly the typical eco-warrior type. He came from a wealthy Jewish family, he was highly educated, never married, described by everybody that knew him as a likeable but very odd man. He was a fanatical hiker and wilderness explorer who thought nothing of hiking 30 plus miles a day. He died at a very young age, which most think was due to him pushing his physical limits too far. He did a lot of good during his life so I can't really fault the guy. Infact he was quite admirable.

The Greatest Unknown American

This is my most cherished book. Bob Marshall should be on Mt. Rushmore, but he would not want to be. James Glover tells the story of Bob Marshall in a way that allows the reader to "see" his life. We are with Marshall as he climbs all of the peaks in the Adirondacks above 4,000 ft. We go west as a young forester, exploring and surveying all of the last great roadless areas in the United States. We over-winter in Alaska as Bob gathers material for "Arctic Village", his book that chronicles the lives of a fading frontier. We move in and out of the halls of official Washington bureauacracy, as Bob tirelessly fights for wilderness. It is an amazing story. Bob Marshall did more for the natural landscape than Thoreau, Muir, or any other naturalist. Indeed, his actions transcended his early and untimely death. James Glover tells the story with vim and vigor.... Buy this book, and learn of someone who worked within the system and accomplished more than could ever be expected. When you enter a wilderness area, you should thank Bob Marshall.....

Excellent book about an important individual

Very good book about one of the most important figures in modern conservation. Marshall was one of the co-founders of the wilderness society and was instrumental in helping create the national wilderness preservation system. He also helped with places such as the Adirondacks and the immense Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. This book provides an interesting summary of this man's extraordinary life, including his famous 40 and 50 mile day hikes!