A Private Wilderness: The Journals of Sigurd F. Olson

by Sigurd F. Olson, David Backes (Editor)

The personal diaries of one of America’s best-loved naturalists, revealing his difficult and inspiring path to finding his voice and becoming a writer  Few writers are as renowned for their eloquence about the natural world, its power and fragility, as Sigurd F. Olson (1899–1982). Before he could give expression to The Singing Wilderness , however, he had to find his own voice. It is this struggle, the painstaking and often simply painful process of becoming the writer and conservationist now familiar to us, that Olson documented in the journal entries gathered here.  Written mostly during the years from 1930 to 1941, Olson’s 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 even as it consumed so much of his time. But 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, more significantly, 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, 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 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 and the wonder that such a reckoning requires. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Biography, Biography Memoir

376 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2021

About the author

Sigurd F. Olson was an American author, environmentalist, and advocate for the protection of wilderness. For more than thirty years, he served as a wilderness guide in the lakes and forests of the Quetico-Superior country of northern Minnesota and northeastern Ontario. He was known honorifically as the Bourgeois — a term the voyageurs of old used of their trusted leaders.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Private Wilderness" is a collection of journal entries by Sig Olson that brings you into a deeper sense of the inner workings of his mind. Before he reached success he struggled immensely and was turned down time after time. His entries are written in a day-to-day format because, as stated before, they are from his personal journal. Those who keep a journal understand that what you write are just your own musings. You don't write a journal with the hope that someday they will be read and published. In those regards, some people may find this collection repetitive as for years he struggles with finding what he calls his "medium". Entry after entry he questions himself and often says the same thing in different ways. But journal writing is a common way to sort out your thoughts and feelings. People tend to write the most when they are frustrated and struggling because it can act as a form of therapy. Through his entries, we see him struggling immensely as he figures out his life and tries to decide which choices are best. Through it all, he never once gives up and even tells Elizabeth, "I will write until the day I die."

Despite the repetition of his thoughts, I find every entry completely fascinating. To enter into his personal mind gave me a deeper sense of his intensity and passion. His NEED for something great and his DESIRE to reach others with his passion. I could picture him writing these entries and FEEL his struggle and heartache. It is achingly beautiful and gives me an entirely new perspective on his books. In fact, it inspired me to go through and reread many of his essay collections.

If you enter into reading this book with the mindset of day-to-day journal entries and understand that these are his inner, personal thoughts you will not be disappointed. You will connect with him on a deeper level more than you could ever imagine. You will feel his pain, doubts, and passion but luckily have the fortunate foresight in knowing that what he goes through ends with his dream in becoming an important figure in environmentalism. A true Bourgeois.

[Rachel Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Private Wilderness shares an inside look at beloved naturalist Sigurd Olson’s life. Olson aspired to be an environmentalist, conservationist, and nature writer. The book uses journal entries from Olson himself to share his thoughts, struggles, and emotions. Passion bleeds from the entries as Olson describes his love for nature.
“Do not forget that communion with nature is communion with one’s soul” (Olson).
Despite pining for an author's life, Sigurd Olson was forced to take environmental jobs that did not satiate his desire to write. Nevertheless, the journal entries showcase his writing talent and passion for growing as a writer. Olson mentions various nature writers for inspiration and expresses his admiration. The authors fuel Olson to become the best writer he can be.
Despite a personal insight into the mind of Sigurd Olson, the book is at times dull. Most of the entries are typical day-to-day thoughts that I felt the urge to skip. I would have like to see more about the man himself. Perhaps, the publisher could have added biographical information between entries to give the reader a better sense of who Olson was. Still, if you are a fan of nature authors or environmentalism A Private Wilderness is an interesting read.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 5.0 of 5

Nature writer, environmentalist, essayist, educator, conservationist, and former president of the National Parks Association, Sigurd F. Olson had a long career working in wilderness areas. For some, such as myself, he is best remembered for his gentle, thoughtful reflections of nature found in books like Listening Point, The Singing Wilderness, or Runes of the North (among others).

Editor David Backes has previously written a biography of Olson and put together a collection of Olson's notable quotes, but with this book we get our best, most intimate look at Sigurd F. Olson, the man, the dreamer.

As I only know of Olson from his published books of nature reflection, what struck me here was how much he agonized over his desire to be a writer - to be able to quit his other work (primarily, early on, as a college teacher) and just be outdoors and writing. And when he wasn't waxing on about his desire to just focus on writing, he was wondering and worrying about what to write. In his earliest days he was writing short stories but having limited luck selling them. With each rejection would come angst-filled journal entries questioning whether or not he could do this, generally followed by yes, what should he write.

This is often quite repetitive, but editor David Backes does a great job of selecting entries that differ just enough to show Olson's frame of mind during these different periods and how Olson slowly grows into the author most of us know him as.

For those who might be drawn to this, hoping for some wilderness connections - there is some here. Olson spent his time and his thoughts in the outdoors, and that comes through in his personal reflections.

Young or hopeful writers will understand Olson's frustrations about making time to write and the hard questioning of one's work with each rejection. That Olson ultimately became quite successful with his goal gives every amateur writer hope.

The book includes a few photos from the appropriate time periods and often showing someone that Olson mentions in one of his journal entries.

We have to remember that journal entries are meant to be private reflections and never intended for a general readership and even though nicely edited, there are times when we sometimes feel we're intruders.

I highly recommend this book.

Looking for a good book? A Private Wilderness: The Journals of Sigurd F. Olson is just what the title suggests - a look at the man, Sigurd Olson, through his private journal writings. It is an excellent book on many levels (such as nature writing, autobiography, psychology, and the business of writing).

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Private Wilderness is a compilation of journals from the Minnesotan writer and conservationist, Sigurd Olson. The journals largely cover the years 1930-1947 (when Sigurd was 31-48), with a few entries in the later years of his life.

The primary driver for me picking up this book was Sigurd's passion for the outdoors, specifically the Superior-Quetico region I also had the chance to enjoy throughout my own childhood. But what kept me reading was more about his own life experience. You hear so often the tales of artists who go their entire lives without recognition—or people who come into their fame/expertise later in life—but it is another thing entirely to actually read those daily struggles and aspirations through the lens of a personal journal. For context, Sigurd's first book was published in 1956, when he was 57 years old. As a result, much of this book covers his struggles of finding his voice and aching to spend more time on his passion, writing. Knowing I am quickly approaching the 30-year mark of my own life, it was oddly...inspiring? comforting? to read somebody else's path to finding their way.

Only giving this four stars because the pacing is difficult. Which is understandable considering the journals were never written with the intention of publishing. The number of entries could have possibly been narrowed further because of the repetition, but I think the repetition (for me at least) drove home how much Sigurd deliberated over the choices of his life and finding his writing voice.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing a presentation from the Listening Point Foundation, and learning about Sigurd Olson's legacy and work, I was interested in learning more about the man; I started with this - his story from from his own journal entries, which is this book. His journal spans his life from 1930 until his death in 1982. A legend in the Northwoods of Minnesota, his life's work encompasses an environmental impact throughout this country. His journal entries capture the angst, anxieties, and years of finding his way as a writer, and ultimately finding his way for his life's work and legacy. His journal entries provide insights into his circuitous path with honesty, vulnerability, and not without pain and struggle. As his story is shared I celebrated his successes, and at times became as impatient with his process, which is often relates to be the case for himself. By the end, though, I definitely gained a great appreciation for the man, and I know it will impact how I assimilate his other published works. I look forward to reading them all.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Backes builds on his earlier biography of the life of Sigurd F. Olson in this book, as he assembles his journal entries from 1930 to the mid-1950s as he struggled to find his voice and a paycheck through his writing. Sigurd Olson is known as the man who helped bring the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, outside of his home town of Ely, MN to fruition and for his 5-6 books that are collections of nature essays. These books remain in print to this day. This book, however, is less about nature than the angst felt by Sigurd F. Olson as he tries to figure what type of book he should write as he seeks out his calling to be a writer. He writes painfully about his struggles and you can feel the pain clearly in his journal entries. Later, when he is able to publish his nature columns and books, you can feel the joy he experiences as he seems to have fulfilled his calling.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story long overdue to be shared, this book provides an edited look at the diary of Sigurd F. Olson. Olson was a major figure in conservation of wilderness in the United States and Canada. He was happiest when out in nature observing and interpreting the biota he saw. He also enjoyed writing about it when he able to write exactly what he wanted without being told what story to tell. Olson played an important role in creating national. lands and seashores and protecting existing national parks from logging or development.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an angsty book . Mr Olson had a very hard time mentally achieving his goal of writing renowned books.

[Doug · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't finished this book because I found something else more interesting--I will return to it sometime.

It's obvious that Sigurd Olson needs to become a writer so he can accomplish his life's goal and I get the idea, however, for the first 100 pages entry after entry after entry finds him totally frustrated that he sees no path to quit teaching and find a way to do what he loves--write. I hope after he is able to accomplish his dream that the entries become more varied and interesting. Stay tuned!

The repetitious inclusion of this same inner battle got to be too deadly for me to endure. I don't recall if I ever finished the book or not because it seemed similar to the movie "Groundhog Day" and that it would never end.