Sequoia: The Heralded Tree In American Art and Culture [Hardcover]

Lori Vermaas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2003

In a brilliant, wide-ranging analysis of the cultural meaning of the California sequoias, author Lori Vermaas reveals how Americans have seen nature as an inspiration, a natural resource, and a national treasure. Analyzing a wide range of sources - landscape paintings, stereographs, tourist photographs, advertisements, and art photography - the author traces the transformation in American views of the natural environment from the 19th century to today. The result is an eye-opening history of Americans in the West and their interactions with the land. Americans perceived the wilderness as a vast, open preserve destined to be conquered and controlled, but around the time of the trees' discovery and celebration, Americans were beginning to see the Western landscape (and sequoias) through very different lenses. Some Americans, especially businessmen and railroad companies, endeavored to put the trees to commercial use, seeing them as the source of tremendous profits. Others, like tourists and early environmentalists, fought to preserve them, often because they saw the majestic trees as their nation's natural inheritance. "Sequoia" presents a timely perspective on both the environment and American culture, offering a new understanding of the contentious battles over nature today.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books (December 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588341402
• ISBN-13: 978-1588341402
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than just a simple tree story, December 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sequoia: The Heralded Tree In American Art and Culture (Hardcover)

This is a literate, engaging, and clever look at the meaning of the sequoia trees in America. I'm a tree lover and was looking for a book that did more than just appreciately display amazing photographs of amazing trees. Not only are there incredible (old!) photos, the author interprets them and pulls out fascinating meaning about American historical attitudes from them. I'm sure that after reading this book, you won't look at trees in the same way again. I'm starting to ask different questions each time I visit one myself! Although the writing and scholarship is a bit advanced, it's not impossible to wade through. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to tree lovers who want to learn something new about trees, particularly about how and why we look to the natural world for all sorts of meaning.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nature's Wonder, April 4, 2006

By 

C. Alyea - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sequoia: The Heralded Tree In American Art and Culture (Hardcover)

I bought this book for a family to enjoy together. There are two
young boys who need the education which I do not think are getting enough in school. One of the boys is extremely interested
in working with wood.