California, the Golden State, conjures up visions of mountains, water, vistas, and vast landscapes. The astounding beauty of California is reflected not only in the works of authors like John Muir, John Steinbeck, Wallace Stegner, Robinson Jeffers, Gretel Ehrlich, and Gary Snyder, but also in surprising and provocative selections from writers such as Jack Kerouac, Norman Mailer, Joan Didion, Aldous Huxley, and Charles Bukowski. This diverse collection of prose and poetry brings alive the diverse landscapes of the Golden State.
Unfolding Beauty: Celebrating California’s Landscapes
The astounding beauty of the Golden State
Reviews
“A remarkable compendium of assorted writings by a cavalcade of talented naturalist and literary writers.”
—The Midwest Book Review
“This superb collection of firsthand observations of the state spanning two centuries vividly describes what California was like before we began carving and polluting her.”
—Palo Alto Daily News
“Essays, poetry, and excerpts round out a collection featuring the natural paradise of the land. Sentiments differ throughout the collection, setting up contrasts between descriptions of untouched beauty and environmental degradation....a necessary purchase for regional libraries.”
—Library Journal
About the Editor
Terry Beers teaches writing and literature at Santa Clara University, where he is a professor in the English department and director of the California Legacy Project. He also serves as the general editor of the California Legacy series of books, co-published by Santa Clara University and Heyday, and he is the host of the "Your California Legacy" radio anthology on KAZU public radio. He lives in northern Monterey County, where he trains sled dogs.
