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Wonderlandscape: Yellowstone National Park and the Evolution of an American Cultural Icon Audiobook
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An evocative blend of history and nature writing that tells the story of Yellowstone’s evolving significance in American culture through the stories of ten iconic figures
Yellowstone is America’s premier national park. Today Yellowstone is often a byword for conservation, natural beauty, and a way for everyone to enjoy the great outdoors. But it was not always this way. Wonderlandscape presents a new perspective on Yellowstone, the emotions that various natural wonders and attractions evoke, and how this explains the park’s relationship to America as a whole.
Whether it is artists or naturalists, entrepreneurs or pop-culture icons, each character in the story of Yellowstone ends up reflecting and redefining the park for the values of its era. For example, when Ernest Thompson Seton wanted to observe bears in 1897, his adventures highlighted the way the park transformed from a set of geological oddities to a wildlife sanctuary, reflecting a nation that was concerned about disappearing populations of bison and other species. Subsequent eras added Rooseveltian masculinity, democratic patriotism, ecosystem science, and artistic inspiration as core Yellowstone hallmarks.
As the National Park system enters its second century, Wonderlandscape allows us to reflect on the values and heritage that Yellowstone alone has come to represent―how it will shape America’s relationship with her land for generations to come.
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“Clayton succeeds in presenting Yellowstone as a core American institution that shares an intimate relationship with Americans as a cultural concept and that acts as a mirror through which Americans have redefined themselves across generations.”
— Publishers Weekly
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“Energetic and insightful.”
— Washington Post -
“A book that will appeal to national park aficionados and fans of Yellowstone National Park, and by breaking down the pivotal moments in bite-size chunks, he’s also written a terrific page-turning experience.”
— Associated Press -
“A fine book about Yellowstone National Park. Wonderlandscape offers more than a few surprises. A great primer on Yellowstone history and a unique discussion of the park’s place in America, in both physical and cultural geography.”
— Yellowstone Insider -
“Offers new and interesting perspectives…Clayton uses entertaining anecdotes, thorough research, and vivid storytelling to emphasize the ways imagery and language have been used to shape our impressions of Wonderland.”
— Big Sky Journal -
“A sensitive portrait of the iconic national park in terms of the American people’s place in it…[A] fine survey.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“Readers get a sense of the park’s changing meaning over time and will see a fascinating interplay between nature and culture, each shaping the other.”
— Library Journal -
“Clayton enthusiastically tells the foundational stories of the magnificent park, which continues to capture the imagination of millions, and explains Yellowstone’s impact on how we manage our natural resources.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A Montana Book Award Honor Book
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About John Clayton
John Clayton is an independent journalist, essayist, and historian based in Montana. He is the author of several books, including The Cowboy Girl, which was a finalist for a High Plains Book Award, and Wonderlandscape: Yellowstone National Park and the Evolution of an American Cultural Icon, a Montana Book Award honor book and winner of the High Plains Book Award.
About Arthur Morey
Arthur Morey has won three AudioFile Magazine “Best Of” Awards, and his work has garnered numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards and placed him as a finalist for two Audie Awards. He has acted in a number of productions, both off Broadway in New York and off Loop in Chicago. He graduated from Harvard and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. He has won awards for his fiction and drama, worked as an editor with several book publishers, and taught literature and writing at Northwestern University. His plays and songs have been produced in New York, Chicago, and Milan, where he has also performed.