This is the first anthology of nature writing that celebrates California, the most geographically diverse state in the union. Readers--be they naturalists or armchair explorers--will find themselves transported to California's many wild places in the company of forty noted writers whose works span more than a century. Divided into sections on California's mountains, hills and valleys, deserts, coast, and elements (earth, wind, and fire), the book contains essays, diary entries, and excerpts from larger works, including fiction. As a prelude to the collection, editor Steven Gilbar presents two...

The story of the people for whom California places are named. From Mt. Ansel Adams to Zabriskie Point. Every city and county and state park named for someone, plus hundreds of other eponymous towns, rivers, mountains, creeks, and beaches.