Reviews
‘This magisterial work, ten years in the making, addresses the question, what happened to the forest that once covered so much of the United States? … Scholars, ranging from geographers to agricultural and literary historians, will applaud Williams’s reach of analysis and attention to detail.’John R. Stilgoe, The Geographical Review, 'While there are a number of solid studies that chronicle the significance of the forest in American history, this meticulously researched, elaborately documented, and carefully written volume provides the most detailed assessment of the evolving economic, political, and cultural relationship between Americans and their timber resources … The comprehensive nature of this study will establish it as a base point for further examination of the role of the forest in the growth and development of the United States.' Phillip Drennon Thomas, Journal of American History, 'This magisterial work, ten years in the making, addresses the question, what happened to the forest that once covered so much of the United States? ... Scholars, ranging from geographers to agricultural and literary historians, will applaud Williams's reach of analysis and attention to detail.'John R. Stilgoe, The Geographical Review, 'Michael Williams's Americans and Their Forests is rich in insights. Much more than a historical geography, as proclaimed by its subtitle, it explores the role of forests in American history, economics, literature and culture.'Norman Myers, Times Literary Supplement, 'This magisterial work, ten years in the making, addresses the question, what happened to the forest that once covered so much of the United States? ... Scholars, ranging from geographers to agricultural and literary historians, will applaud Williams's reach of analysis and attention to detail.' John R. Stilgoe, The Geographical Review, 'While there are a number of solid studies that chronicle the significance of the forest in American history, this meticulously researched, elaborately documented, and carefully written volume provides the most detailed assessment of the evolving economic, political, and cultural relationship between Americans and their timber resources ... The comprehensive nature of this study will establish it as a base point for further examination of the role of the forest in the growth and development of the United States.'Phillip Drennon Thomas, Journal of American History, ‘While there are a number of solid studies that chronicle the significance of the forest in American history, this meticulously researched, elaborately documented, and carefully written volume provides the most detailed assessment of the evolving economic, political, and cultural relationship between Americans and their timber resources … The comprehensive nature of this study will establish it as a base point for further examination of the role of the forest in the growth and development of the United States.’Phillip Drennon Thomas, Journal of American History, 'This magisterial work, ten years in the making, addresses the question, what happened to the forest that once covered so much of the United States? … Scholars, ranging from geographers to agricultural and literary historians, will applaud Williams's reach of analysis and attention to detail.' John R. Stilgoe, The Geographical Review, 'Michael Williams's Americans and Their Forests is rich in insights. Much more than a historical geography, as proclaimed by its subtitle, it explores the role of forests in American history, economics, literature and culture.' Norman Myers, Times Literary Supplement, 'While there are a number of solid studies that chronicle the significance of the forest in American history, this meticulously researched, elaborately documented, and carefully written volume provides the most detailed assessment of the evolving economic, political, and cultural relationship between Americans and their timber resources ... The comprehensive nature of this study will establish it as a base point for further examination of the role of the forest in the growth and development of the United States.' Phillip Drennon Thomas, Journal of American History, ‘Rare indeed is the privilege of reviewing a book that is destined to become a classic, but Michael Williams’s Americans and Their Forests gives me just such an opportunity. Williams has written the definitive historical geography of the importance of forests in the life, livelihood, and landscape of the United States and the way in which our thinking about and our use of our forests have changed through time in response to our changing needs and ideals.’John Fraser Hart, Forest and Conservation History, ‘Michael Williams’s Americans and Their Forests is rich in insights. Much more than a historical geography, as proclaimed by its subtitle, it explores the role of forests in American history, economics, literature and culture.’Norman Myers, Times Literary Supplement, 'Rare indeed is the privilege of reviewing a book that is destined to become a classic, but Michael Williams's Americans and Their Forests gives me just such an opportunity. Williams has written the definitive historical geography of the importance of forests in the life, livelihood, and landscape of the United States and the way in which our thinking about and our use of our forests have changed through time in response to our changing needs and ideals.' John Fraser Hart, Forest and Conservation History, 'Rare indeed is the privilege of reviewing a book that is destined to become a classic, but Michael Williams's Americans and Their Forests gives me just such an opportunity. Williams has written the definitive historical geography of the importance of forests in the life, livelihood, and landscape of the United States and the way in which our thinking about and our use of our forests have changed through time in response to our changing needs and ideals.'John Fraser Hart, Forest and Conservation History
Table of Content
List of illustrations; List of tables; Preface; A note on tree, lumber, and plant association names; Abbrevaitions; Part I. The Forest Before 1600: 1. The forest in American life; 2. The forest and the Indian; Part II. Change in the Forest, 1600-1859: 3. The forest and pioneer life, 1600-1810; 4. Two centuries of change: the commercial uses of the forest; 5. The quickening pace: agricultural clearing, 1810-1860; 6. The quickening pace: the industrial impact, 1810-1860; Part III. Regional and National Impacts, 1860-1920: 7. The lumberman's assault on the forests of the Lake States, 1860-1890; 8. The lumberman's assault on the southern forest, 1880-1920; 9. The last lumber frontier: the rise of the Pacific Northwest, 1880-1940; 10. Industrial impacts on the forest, 1860-1920; 11. Agricultural impacts on the forest, 1860-1920; Part IV. Inquiry and Concern: Questions About the Forest, 1870-1933: 12. Preservation and management, 1870-1910; 13. Ownership, supply, protection, and use, 1900-1933; 14. The rebirth of the forest, 1933 and after; Notes; References; Index.
