The Pacific Northwest: An Interpretive History (Revised and Enlarged Edition) [Hardcover]

Carlos Arnaldo Schwantes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

Carlos Arnaldo Schwantes has revised and expanded the entire work, which is still the most comprehensive and balanced history of the region. This edition contains significant additional material on early mining in the Pacific Northwest, sea routes to Oregon in the early discovery and contact period, the environment of the region, the impact of the Klondike gold rush, and politics since 1945. Recent environmental controversies, such as endangered salmon runs and the spotted owl dispute, have been addressed, as has the effect of the Cold War on the region’s economy. The author has also expanded discussion of the roles of women and minorities and updated statistical information.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Schwantes surveys the economic and social history of the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) from the time of the first white-Indian contact to 1987. He focuses on three major themes: economic development based on natural resources, the urbanization of society, and an increasing concern for the environment. The analysis is generally careful and the writing clear, but the chapters dealing with the 1890-1914 period are somewhat disjointed and contain some unsupported assertions, making it difficult to trace the course of Populism and Progressivism. Nevertheless, this is a useful survey and can be recommended for most collections.
- Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This eminently readable book provides a refreshing current perspective on the Northwest. . . . More than 100 illustrations, maps, and figures drawn from archival repositories in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho provide a valuable visual dimension . . . an excellent synthesis."—Journal of the West

(Journal of the West )

"Essential reading . . . an excellent overview of the region. . . . The well-chosen photographs are a superb counterpoint to the text. . . . Arguably the best collection of photos and drawings anywhere in print that illustrate the whole of Northwest history."—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

(Seattle Post-Intelligencer )

"A superb book."—Columbia

(Columbia )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 570 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press; Rev Sub edition (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803242255
• ISBN-13: 978-0803242258
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,523,360 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Agreeable Regional History, October 21, 2004

By 

S. Pactor "reader" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pacific Northwest: An Interpretive History (Revised and Enlarged Edition) (Paperback)

Bought in Portland, read it during my week long visit to the Northwest. As a resident of California who has visited Washington (Seattle), Oregon (Portland, Bend) and Idaho (Boise, Sun Valley), I decided to get this book because it treats the three states as a region. I figured it would be more efficient then reading seperate histories of the three states. I wasn't dissapointed.

Schwanter does a good job differentiating the three states while at the same time making the case for the area's treatment as a region. Most of the writing is workmanlike. Rarely did I find myself transported to a different time and place.

The most interesting sections were the early settlement of Oregon and the section dealing with the politics of Oregon in the twentieth century.

Good introduction to the history of the area, but it didn't compel me to do any follow up reading. Kind of seems like a community college text book at times.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inclusive history, August 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pacific Northwest: An Interpretive History (Revised and Enlarged Edition) (Paperback)

This book was nice because it didn't just talk about "the complete Native American Experience" or "the complete African American experience" instead, it would talk about an historical event and explains how that effected the masses as well as the Native Americans, African Americans, women, Chicanos/as, Asian Americans, labor, environmentalists, etc. It was quietly inclusive. Plus it discussed all aspects of WA state and NWern history from European exploration to Microsoft and Boeing aircraft. Very complete, used as a textbook for a college class at the U of Washington.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, June 22, 2003

By 

M. dickinson "moomoolvscats" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pacific Northwest (Hardcover)

I just loved this book. It was required to read for a history class. I just loved how the author wrote this book, and added humor into it.

I was so interested of what was going to happen next. a good book to read, a good book for any type of reading.

It's about the history of "The Pacific NorthWest", for before the time when Lewis and Clark explored the area and reached Astoria on the coast of Oregon. It talks about the Days of Captain cook and the fight for the terriory, and each chapter is broken down into sub-chapters for more clarification.

It goes to the history of N.W. to about the mid 1990's.

I really enjoyed this book, and learned a lot about the area.