Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land

by Walter R. Borneman

The history of Alaska is filled with stories of new land and new riches -- and ever present are new people with competing views over how the valuable resources should be Russians exploiting a fur empire; explorers checking rival advances; prospectors stampeding to the clarion call of "Gold!"; soldiers battling out a decisive chapter in world war; oil wildcatters looking for a different kind of mineral wealth; and always at the core of these disputes is the question of how the land is to be used and by whom.

While some want Alaska to remain static, others are in the vanguard of change. Saga of a Bold Land shows that there are no easy answers on either side and that Alaska will always be crossing the next frontier.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel, American History, Nature

644 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Walter R. Borneman, b.1952, an American historian and lawyer, is the author of well-known popular books on 18th and 19th century United States history. He received his B.A. in 1974 from Western State College of Colorado, and received an M.A. in history there in 1975 for a thesis on "Irwin : silver camp of the Ruby Mountains"; in 1981 he received a law degree from the University of Denver, and practiced law. His latest book, published in May 2012, is The Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King--the 5-star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea.
wikipedia

Reviews

[Susanna Natti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really admire writers who can take a broad, sprawling subject and distill it into a comprehensible and readable form. Walter Borneman does it here, very successfully. I read this book because we traveled to Alaska recently; I started it before we left and finished it a few days into our journey. Having a notion of the scale, resources, people and history enhanced my travels, of course, but I was surprised and grateful and impressed that Walter Borneman's writing was better than good - it was compellling and sometimes hard to put down. I recommend it most definitely if you are planning to travel to Alaska or if you have an interest in the history of the United States. It may make you want to go to Alaska even if you hadn't planned on doing it.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 2003 so much has happened in Alaska since then, but if you want an extensive but thoroughly readable and enjoyable history of this state up to the new century, then this book will definitely fulfill you. History told through stories - fabulous!

[Anne S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was very long with a lot of detail. I skipped some of the details that I wasn't as interested in. The author is very knowledgeable but it wasn't always an easy read.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Exhaustive" is the word I'd go for. On the plus side, there's lots of good information and decent storytelling. You get a good sense of just how much effort went into stamping European civilization across such a vast, inhospitable stretch of land, all in the name of exploiting the natural resources that were there – first furs, then gold, then oil.

My favorite story was the Chilkoot Pass. During the 1898 gold rush, one of the best routes to Klondike was a boat from Seattle to Dyea in southeast Alaska, up the 3500-foot pass into Canada, and then down to a lake where you could build a boat and float down the rivers to Klondike. But there weren't resources at Klondike to support everyone that wanted to come, so the Mounties required anyone entering Canada to bring a year's supply of food – which meant the stampeders had to climb up and down the snowy trail to Chilkoot Pass dozens of times, ferrying up a literal ton of food each, load by load. Then, over the course of two years, a railway was built across the White Pass nearby. The railway town of Skagway boomed, and Dyea became a ghost town almost overnight.

Borneman seems to have a conviction that the reader should know how every geographical feature in Alaska got its name, and it feels like you're personally introduced to every single European in Alaska before about 1940. At a certain point, the information overwhelms the reader and it becomes hard to track what's actually interesting and what's extraneous.

This is another entry in my "history books read before traveling to a place" series, and if other authors could do justice to Central Europe and Italy in 400 pages each, Alaska probably didn't need 540.

[Ashley Lipps]

So, so long. Way too detailed. I really wanted to get up to speed on the history of Alaska because family live there now, but now I feel like I know every detail of every person who went to Alaska for mining in the 19th century and I’m now an expert in pipeline construction. If I could stomach reading only part of a book and not the whole thing, I would have read the parts on Alaska’s indigenous history and WW2 history.

[Ashley Cobb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great narrative history of the area we now know as the state of Alaska. It does a great job of not only giving a great big picture view of what happened at the various stages of the development but also a sprinkling of small-scale yet very fascinating anecdotes which help the reader to understand the nature and character of Alaska and the people who live there. One of my favorites involved a Confederate Captain sent to Alaska to disrupt Yankee shipping who turned pirate!

The only other book I have read that remotely approaches a history of Alaska was James Michener's "Alaska". I enjoy his books but they are epic fiction with splashes of history sprinkled in. This book is narrative history. Easy to read yet very compelling.

One of the great challenges of historical accounts is effectively conveying what happened devoid of bias and agenda. The author does a good job of this. He acknowledges that it becomes more difficult to accurately recount historical accounts the closer you get to the present as the fallout of events has yet to be settled. As the narrative moves to the present (The book moves up to 2001), he does a good job of walking the line as he explores Native Land claims, the oil industry, and the use of land. These are complex issues with no easy answers or frankly explanations. This book raises them in a way that doesn't suggest a "right side" or "wrong side" but leaves the reader with a greater appreciation of these issues.

This book is a great read, if you have a vacation to Alaska and want to know more before you go, this book is a great place to start.

[Kenneth Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent history of Alaska. The book is divided into nine sections covering a certain span of years. It begins with the geography of Alaska and the forces that created it’s physical features. Next the book the various peoples that constitute Native Alaskans.
The book then covers the explorers that ventured into the land and mapped it. Further sections cover mining, mountaineering, logging and fishing. The effects of the world wars and the the Cold War effected the development of Alaska. Other sections trace the development of the oil industry and tourism.
As we learn the various periods of the history we meet the fascinating people who discovered, explored and developed the the state.
The author then discusses the conflict between environmentalists and business interests that want to exploit all the resources. This conflict brought the Native Alaskans into the controversy to protect their lands and way of life. Their efforts led to a large land and monetary settlement to the various tribes.
The book also covers the creation of the various National Parks, Wilderness areas and monuments.
A very entertaining and informative book.

[Diana Suddreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only disappointment with Alaska: Sage of a Bold Land is that it was written twenty years ago and thus is missing the last twenty years of history.

Borneman does a thorough job of writing the history of Alaska, from the formation of the land to the fight over its ownership. I found the early pages the most interesting, with information about Russian settlements and the story of how the U.S. came into possession of Alaska and how the lines with Canada came to be. As early prospecting, the gold rush, and the oil boom unfolded, the sheer number of characters makes the book more difficult to read, and it is this thoroughness that reveals the wonder of Alaska.

I read the book in advance of, during, and just after an Alaskan cruise and felt that it really added to my enjoyment of the cruise and understanding of what I was seeing along the way.

Alaska is a wonder and Borneman revels in its wonders.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the operative word here is "saga" -- I should have picked by the title that this was going to be a long, long book. It was, and even more so because I had my iPad opened to Google Earth so I could get a picture of all the places this story covered.

I enjoyed the book, even though the events in the book ended in 2000. Still, the story is there from the beginning then to the Russians, the Spanish (really!), the French (a little), the English, the Canadians and, finally, the Americans who bought Alaska for the tidy sum of 2 cents per acre. Wow.

It covered soft gold (furs), real gold, black gold (oil) and the people that make up the country. It was a great effort ... in fact it could probably use a good editing and cutting out all of the repetitions and people who are mentioned that didn't even fit into his narrative.

[Don LeClair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a book to get a broad overview of Alaska and its history, before I go to visit later this year. “Alaska: Saga of a Bold Land” does provide that.

Borneman’s book covers the remarkable history of Alaska and the changes since it was “discovered” in the 18th century and up to the modern day. The economy evolved through fishing, lumber, gold and minerals, oil and into the modern age of tourism.

The book is solidly researched and footnoted, and the writing is truly clear. The Oxford dictionary describes a saga as “a long story of heroic achievement.” I would say that this book is a good long story, but definitely not heroic.

[Bill Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planning a trip to Alaska I wanted some background information before going. So I read James Michener’s Alaska. An very enjoyable read, it left me wanting more. I needed to separate fact from fiction. So I found this book and having read other titles by Walter Borneman I felt it would get the job done. Definitely a good choice. Alaska’s history is a large and complex topic and Mr Borneman handled it very well. The beginning was a little challenging but I eventually got involved in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Alaska.

[Mallory Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I disagree with the reviews stating that there was no central narrative. I thought that's exactly what the author provided - a detailed history of Alaska centered around key themes. Although the book is long, I thought it flowed well and found all its content to be interesting.

The maps on the inside covers were especially helpful; I constantly flipped to them to reference cities, landmarks, and waterways as I read about them. It really helped me place them within the full Alaskan landscape.

[David Ellena · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are heading to Alaska on a cruise in July and I wanted to know more about Alaska and its history and culture. This book was a great source of information. It walked me through the various points of history in the land and how it evolved over decades. It also provides an in depth look at politics, economics and how they impacted the land and the people. It is a long read, but the writing style made it easier to read. If you have any questions about Alaska this is a great book for you.

[Roger Rohweder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for a trip we have planned. What an amazing state! Mountains, Oil/Gas, Fish, Wilderness - all of incredible size. And a very interesting history. It made me excited to get there, with the only caveat being that the huge size means one can only experience a tiny fraction of this beautiful land.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

History of Alaska from the first settlers to modern times. Strong on WWII history, statehood, Gold Rush, and oil exploration; weak on Russian experiences and pre-20th century history of native peoples. Lots of anecdotes on the personalities of early bush pilots and on those climbing various mountains.

[Walter Boomsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very thorough (long!) view of the history of Alaska. I wouldn't call it a page-turner, but it kept my interest as my "a few pages before bed" book. It seemed well-researched. As with most history books it bogged down in detail occasionally, but I did enjoy the learning.

[Deb Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, accessible overview of Alaskan history.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the book is 20 years old, the historical portion of the book remains sound. I have liked all of Borneman’s books I’ve read. This book about a state was a page-turner for me all the way through.

[J.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter R. Borneman tells the interesting social and political history of Alaska, from the Native peoples through the Russian occupation and the sale to the United States down to the present day. The last 100 years or so is covered in greater detail than much of the time prior, but this is still the most comprehensive book about Alaska that I could find. Given the large size of Alaska there is a lot of ground covered in this book from mountaineering and those who surveyed and climbed the peaks to the gold rush and oil boom to the exploitation of sea otters and salmon and the overall exploration of the land. I have had an interest in learning more about Alaska for about a year now, and all I could find in my local library was Michener's immense and sometimes dense "Alaska," which is, of course, historical fiction. It was helpful and covered in detail what might be called the "eras" of Alaska's history, but the fact that it was fiction made it confusing when trying to learn the real history. Nonetheless, it provided a good basis and context. But Borneman's great book gives the real history and names without lumping so much history together, and it does so in a very readable and entertaining way. I had checked out this book from the library but accidentally ordered it from Amazon through "one-click" ordering. Amazon graciously offered to take it back, but I've enjoyed the book so much that it was an easy decision to keep it.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent readable history of Alaska. As with several books I have read recently, I am trying to learn more about the biggest state of the union prior to a visit there. This book added to my knowledge; it was different from others in that it was not a travel book, but a history book. I felt it succeeded at giving a wide-ranging description of Alaska, even handedly discussing the various booms and busts that have been part of the story – fur exploitation, fishing, oil, war and tourism. I learned that the Japanese had actually occupied part of Alaska in the 2nd World War; I had not known that. The history of the process by which statehood came to Alaska and the associated division of the land among Alaskan Natives, Nature reserves and the state itself was fascinating. The US had learned to treat the first nations of Alaska better than those of the lower 48. The question that echoes throughout the book is “Whose land?” Who has the right to use the land – should it be exploited for any kind of commercialism including oil exploration and tourism, should it be completely reserved for no-one’s use, or should it have some kind of sustainable use, as practices by (at least some) of the Alaskan Natives? A book that leaves the reader better informed and still questioning; a good book.

[Jennifer Zartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read this book. I own a hardback copy, and with 608 pages it lacks the portability of my Kindle, so I often left it at home when my reading time would be elsewhere. This didn't create a problem with continuity, however, as Walter Borneman organized the book into nine mini-books, making it easy to read in stages. Borneman also tells the saga with skill and an engaging writing style, so the book is never boring. The end notes, bibliography and index take up an impressive 67 pages to help those who want to check up on his references or read more on their own. My only complaint is that it could use better maps. I particularly enjoyed the opening chapter in which he discusses the mind boggling mountain ranges and other geographical features of Alaska, and someday I hope to see some of what I've read about.

[Manuel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very dense history book. It describes every single expedition in great detail. There are so many names dropped I can't remember a single one now. It took me fucking forever to finish it. I wish it was less dry and had more of a narrative weaved through it.
I have to give props for the level of detail though.
Also it doesn't have much contemporary history, the bulk of the book is devoted to pre-1950s.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A general overview the history of Alaska from the natives to the present. A constant theme throughout the book is whose land? Should it be conserved as untouched wilderness or should development be allowed? Does the nation have an interest in the land or is it owned completely by private citizens? Although it seemed that the author leaned more towards conservationalism, he did present the other side. A good overview that can lead to much deeper study.

[Mike Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my type of book. Seemed to be more like a text book. i personally need the author to be able to weave a narrative into the material to keep me engaged. I didn't finish the book - Just too many books to read for me to spend time on one that I really didn't enjoy. having said that I think that the book is a great source of information about Alaska.

[Nomad · Rating 4 out of 5]

State history books generaly contain a lot of dates and facts,but can be dry to read, I got a lot of facts from this book and it was easy reading. I read it on my 7 day drive up to alaska from the lower 48. I would recommend this book.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it to be a highly informative and enjoyable read, taking us through the history of the state and its people. Borneman goes into a lot of detail on a subject that's otherwise often overlooked in American history.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter Borneman provides an interesting, informative, sweeping overview of the history of Alaska and its geography. This book is recommended reading for anyone considering traveling to Alaska for work or pleasure.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was too long - too big, like the state itself! If I'd had more time, I might have been able to get into it.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent history of Alaska

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book telling about the discovery of Alaska to the present day.