The Adirondack Reader

by Paul F. Jamieson (Editor)

Book by

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

525 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1983

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, and at some point I fell in love with mountains. I also love history, so when I discovered this book on my grandparents' shelf my heart skipped a beat. I love the "Lost Pond" tale, and several others. I've found new inspiration for my own writings, being reminded of the places I traveled and loved as a kid. Thank you, Mr. Jamieson.

[Thefeintinggoat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chief charm of exploration lies in the uncertainty of always finding what one starts out to find, and in the equal certainty that one may find something else." -- 256

162
The view from Marcy is peculiar. It is without softness or relief. The narrow valleys are only dark shadows; the lakes are bits of broken mirror. From horizon to horizon there is a tumultuous sea of billows turned to stone. You stand up on the highest billow; you command the situation; you have surprised Nature in a high creative act; the mighty primal energy has only just become repose.

164
"Why, Mr. Phelps, the principal charm of this place seems to be its loneliness--"

452
We passed many days in the trackless solitudes with only a pocket compass as guide. There is no other loneliness so deep and solemn, or that so haunts the imagination, and is so full of joy and fear to the boyish spirirt as the far-away loneliness that is felt in the gloomy, trackless wilderness. With a party, or upon well-known routes, this is not experienced.

454
An European can have no idea of an American forest -- indeed many Americans are as much abroad in forming any idea of its savage grandeur. I constantly pause to look around, above and all about me to feel the depth of loneliness that it impresses on one.

457
it is not in the woods alone to give one this impression of utter lonelieness. In the woods are sounds and voices and a dump kind of companionship; one is little more than a walking tree himself; but come upon one of these mountains lakes, and the wildness stands revealed and meets you face to face. Water is thus facile and adaptive, that it makes the wild more wild, while it enhances culture and art.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up going to the Adirondacks every summer, but I never knew much about the history of the region. This book is a well-curated journey through the history of Europeans in this wilderness - unfortunately, this collection does not contain any first-hand Iroquois or Algonquin accounts. Sections are organized around the reason people went into the mountains, and much attention is given to the struggle to preserve the land for future generations. A good read that made me miss the Adirondacks even more.

[Scrabbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Rich Mulvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great survey of writing about the Adirondacks over the past three centuries.