Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie (Companion to the Acclaimed PBS Documentary) [Hardcover]

Aimee Larabee (Author), John Altman (Author), Lyle Lovett (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2001

From the formation of this "sea of grass" to the settlers who worked the prairie, this history interweaves the natural and human elements that made the grasslands what they are today. Although this terrain has become our greatest hope for survival--miraculously absorbing and transforming pollution into food for the grasses and, eventually, for humans--no ecosystem faces more danger. What can we do to conserve this special landscape? Through copious illustrations and sidebars taken from diaries, letters, folk tales, music, poetry, recollections, interviews, and other writings, follow the relationship between Americans and the "fruited plains": the European immigrants who broke the land with the plow; the Indians who first inhabited the range; the cowboys and cowgirls who loved the open skies; and the lives of modern-day ranchers.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Filmmakers Larrabee and Altman supply an achingly beautiful companion book to their acclaimed PBS documentary Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie. Designated as the "most endangered ecosystem in North America," the tallgrass prairie has diminished to only five percent of its original size. Supporting a wide variety of increasingly endangered plants and animals, and providing a necessary source of nutrients and air purity, the grasslands are the object of massive preservation efforts by contemporary environmentalists. In addition to examining the natural and scientific significance of the prairie's unique ecology, the authors also analyze the profound effect the natural prairie landscape has had on the collective psyche of the American people. Accompanied by more than 150 stunning photographs, this informative text is also a browser's delight. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Metrobooks (March 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586631349
• ISBN-13: 978-1586631345
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #601,808 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Last Stand of the Tall Grass Prairie, January 3, 2007

By 

Country Music Lover (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie (Companion to the Acclaimed PBS Documentary) (Hardcover)

This is an outstanding coffee table book for folks who appreciate or want to know more about the history and what is happening to the Tall Grass Prairie. Having worked with landowners and producers in the Flint Hills of Kansas (last large area of the tall grass prairie), I recommend the book and the video it supports (Last Stand of the Tall Grass Prairie). The Tall Grass Prairie is a vanishing resourse form lack of proper management and fragmentation (urban sprawl).

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie, December 2, 2009

By 

Barb from Wayland - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Last Stand of the Tallgrass Prairie (Companion to the Acclaimed PBS Documentary) (Hardcover)

I purchased this as a gift for someone else and she loved it. Excellent service. Thank you.