A Wilderness Original: The Life of Bob Marshall

by James M. Glover

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 BobnMontana'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.

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly in terms of the factual content, I found this book to be incredibly illuminating. Glover s perspective as a recreation resources conservation expert shows how influential Bob Marshall was in defining the very concept of American Wilderness. On a personal level, it turns out that I have much in common with Marshall. Thanks to the Whitefish library curators for setting it out on the shelf! After the book called to me from the shelf in the local history section, I read it three weeks.

[Kasey Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

“But few people have ever loved their country as Marshall did. He believed fervently in participative government, freedom of speech, press, and religion, and the egalitarian ideals which influenced the country’s development. He was a serious student of American history. In all his thousands of miles of wilderness travel, he never left North America. And perhaps, most importantly, he loved his country from the ground up, starting with the soil and rocks and ferns and trees.”

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Len Knighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one who has enjoyed the out of doors, especially vacations in Vermont, I enjoyed reading of the life of Bob Marshall and his adventures. The wilderness certainly needs advocates like him.
My only objection to Glover's writing is his use of the word LIBERAL in describing some of Marshall's friends. While he may not have intended it, it came across as a negative most of the time. That may be a bias of mine, because I do not like describing people based on race, sexual orientation, political persuasion, or religious conviction.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative biography of a founder of the Wilderness Society and crusader for the creation and protection of American wilderness.

[Hunter Choy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob was very cool. Thank you Bob, very cool.