J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets

Book Description

Shocking, grim, frightening, Curt Gentry's masterful portrait of America's top policeman is a unique political biography. From more than 300 interviews and over 100,000 pages of previously classified documents, Gentry reveals exactly how a paranoid director created the fraudulent myth of an invincible, incorruptible FBI. For almost fifty years, Hoover held virtually unchecked public power, manipulating every president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Richard Nixon. He kept extensive blackmail files and used illegal wiretaps and hidden microphones to destroy anyone who opposed him. The book reveals how Hoover helped create McCarthyism, blackmailed the Kennedy brothers, and influenced the Supreme Court; how he retarded the civil rights movement and forged connections with mobsters; and what part he played in the investigations of President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. A New York Times bestseller. 32 pages of photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Barbara Tuchman would be proud..........2007-05-27

Fifteen years in the making, "J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets" is a long, intricate, dense, but ultimately rewarding read. There are occasional minor lapses like misspellings, date typos, Congressmen misidentified as Senators, etc., as well as names dropping in and out of the narrative which require frequent use of the index to refresh one's memory, but it's all to be expected in a work of such amazing depth and scope. I first read this book shortly after its original publication in 1991, and have found myself frequently referring back to it ever since - it's what I consider a great "gateway book," as its exhaustive bibliography covers virtually all facets of American history and political life over most of the past century. And its lessons remain relevant even today, particularly in light of the Bush Administration dusting off Nixon's infamous Huston Plan in the aftermath of 9/11 and very nearly setting off a palace revolt within the Justice Department as a result. The story of Hoover's final years is all the more compelling now given the more recent revelation of former FBI Deputy Associate Director W. Mark Felt as Bob Woodward's famous Watergate source, "Deep Throat." Felt's current state of both physical and mental frailty, as documented in Woodward's "The Secret Man," means that Gentry's work may well be the clearest available view of what led one of the Bureau's highest officials to guide a young reporter through the opening acts of a story that would bring down the President. And Gentry ably captures the atmosphere of Washington at a time when the famed FBI Director could still cast a long shadow over events that transpired both outside his Bureau and after his death.

"J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets" is the story of a consummate functionary and master of bureaucratic survival, whose reputation was destroyed by his own prejudices and paranoia in much the same fashion as the last President he "served". It's a cautionary tale about the perils of investing too much power in government, and the personal toll upon the wielders of that power and those who would aspire to it. It's a story of how praiseworthy accomplishments in Hoover's early career were ultimately overshadowed by his petty vindictiveness, which bordered on the childish, and his pathological aversion to sharing the limelight. It's a story of how these character flaws ended up costing lives, including several FBI agents like Melvin Purvis, whose successes in cracking high-profile cases did more for the glory-hungry Director's reputation than for their own advancement. It's a story about the limitations of power, and how one of the most respected (and feared) government agencies either completely missed or failed to stop changes in society at large, whether by expending vast resources on a nonexistent communist threat while ignoring the growing power and reach of organized crime, or unsuccessfully attempting to sabotage the Civil Rights movement. It's a story of hypocrisy and self-delusion, not only of Hoover but of politicians like McCarthy, Johnson, Nixon, and others who tried to use Hoover's secrets for their own ends. And finally, it's the story of literally decades of activities that made a mockery of the Bureau's widely-proclaimed founding principles of Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity.

Curt Gentry does a commendable job of maintaining scholarly detachment while recounting details, whether gory or erotic, from the famous cases and (mostly illegal) surveillances that formed the basis of Hoover's power. Drawing from these, plus White House tapes from two different administrations and extensive source interviews, Gentry paints a warts-and-all portrait not only of Hoover, but of many other famous people (heroic and otherwise). There's the origin of the urban legend concerning Dillinger's anatomy. There's President Truman earning Hoover's eternal ire by correcting him on a matter of Scripture. There are snide remarks galore - from FDR about Eleanor, Bobby Kennedy about Associate FBI Director Clyde Tolson, Nixon and Haldeman about Hoover, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s locker-room joke about Jackie. There's JFK's penchant for amphetamines, and convincing evidence that this was one thing Kennedy and Hoover had in common. Gentry recounts Hoover's pique at being victimized by the Bureau's own tactics when reporters like Jack Anderson dared to circumvent the FBI propaganda machine with dumpster diving and "black bag jobs" of their own. Watergate cognoscenti will appreciate Attorney General John Mitchell's off-the-cuff reference to "programming Liddy," as well as Mitchell's unforgettable wife Martha, who sang Hoover's praises with "...if you've seen one FBI Director you've seen them all," followed by, "John tells me he's never worked for a nicer fellow." And Gentry manages to address, without sensationalizing, the persistent rumors of a homosexual relationship between Hoover and Tolson; a perfectly fair subject given Hoover's penchant for sexual slander and Tolson's spectacular ascent through the hidebound bureaucracy that Hoover himself designed.

The book begins and ends with the events surrounding Hoover's death in the Spring of 1972, some six weeks prior to the Watergate break-in. The first telling presents the passing of the nation's most famous unelected public servant in its more "official" version; the second is colored by the sordid history behind a carefully-engineered facade that had already begun to crumble. Included are Nixon's recollections of his own failed attempts to fire Hoover - military history buffs familiar with Guderian's memoir, "Panzer Leader," will recognize a familiar pattern to the conversations. For J. Edgar Hoover, like both Hitler and Stalin, was a master of political and media manipulation who ultimately failed to live up to his own image, and it's no small irony that a man lodged within the bureaucracy of a supposedly free society could outlast both dictators by a substantial margin. But no matter what one thinks of the Director's tenure and legacy, Curt Gentry has succeeded admirably in providing a thorough, and possibly even definitive, examination of a significant figure in American history.

the most powerful man in 20th century america.......2007-04-02

i decided to read about hoover after the debate began on the patriot act and its impingement of our civil rights. Was it really a change from yesteryear? how bad were the intrusions? after reading the amazon reviews, i selected this book over others.

it is a well detailed history of j edgar hoover and his over 50 years as head of the fbi. the book is well documented with footnotes, source notes, and bibliography. the biography is told fairly objectively. i was glad to see the author didn't spend hardly any time on the cross dressing/homosexuality rumors that run rampant. it is not to say they are not correct, only that they are unproven. that means the author stuck to the facts he had, not the salacious history it could be. for that i appreciate the integrity of the historical perspective that the author portrays. i feel i have the true story on what he presents, and that is what i look for in a political biogrphy.

with all that said, this book is an eye opener. the power that this man held was unbelievable. the lives, both innocent and guilty, that he destroyed innumerable. the tactics disgusting and terrifying. Simply put it could have been almost anyone.

does it change the debate? i don't think so. even with his scum tactics, he did not prevent dr martin luther king from changing the world. the question still stands. should we be prepared to give up some of our civil rights to assist in the pursuit of those who threaten us? will there be abuse? of course. but that doesn't make the interests of the whole less than the interests of the few. the problem with hoover was the duration of his control. had presidents had the will to risk their careers and fire what they knew to be a problem, it would not have become systemic as it did.

very good book of a dark side of our history.

A masterpiece of careful documentation.......2006-03-13

In the context of recent concerns about spying on Americans by the Executive Branch of government, it is timely to re-read this classic biography. Gentry skips sensationalism and scandal, but his carefully detailed portrait shows a nasty, bigotted old man who happily chiselled his employer.

So how did Hoover remain in power for half a century? Simply put, he had a file on everyone. And he wasn't afraid of using his minions to imply the threat of blackmail.

There's little evidence of active homosexuality by Hoover, indeed labelling someone a "fag" seems to have been his biggest threat. However, here we have a many who lived with his mother until his mid-40's, whose "Associate Director" was his daily companion whose adult sexuality at best could be called retarded.

Gentry's indictment of Hoover does not avoid his few good qualities -- he was a hard worker and an efficient administrator. The notes and footnotes are extensive, but do not interfere with a page-turning narrative for those who want to go quickly. In sum, it amounts to a crashing indictment of a man whose name does not deserve to be on a government building.

A thoroughly detailed, fascinating, and shocking account of a complex man.......2006-03-01

A fascinating and comprehensive look at a complex, powerful, and manipulative man. Gentry brings to life the power that Hoover held, power bestowed on him by virtue of the secrets he held in the massive volumes of FBI files he collected over his 48 year tenure.

Hoover's far reach and influence are stunning. Most people probably have a cursory idea of Hoover's god-like legacy, but Gentry brings out the jaw dropping, scandalous details in vivid candor. Hoover had leverage over his superiors - the president and the attorney general - as well as his subordinates, Congress, Hollywood, local police jurisdictions, and civil rights leaders. His sway only increased with every year his held his office.

Gentry's account is exhaustively researched and probably the most extensive and authoritative history of Hoover in existence. He delves into the paradox that Hoover was, a rigid, aggravating, unlikeable, and deeply vindictive man to many, yet to a few close associates, he was engaging and affable, if not warm, and to him they were 100% loyal.

Hoover was no doubt a product of his time. For the calculating personality he possessed, who could ask for better career advancement opportunities than to serve in a time of the depression, bootleggers, gansters, the mafia, the Communist red scare, and the Kennedy assasinations successively. All during Hoover's time at the FBI, there was a valid argument to be made that he was simply indispensible. The desire of many in government to end his tenure was thwarted time after time, almost to a comical degree. Hoover was saved by the skin of his teeth more than once by fortuitous turns of events.

Beyond just Hoover, this book explores the dark side of politics in general. The horse trading, the double dealing, the secret deals, the blacklisting, blackmailing, break-ins, cover-ups, set-ups, take-downs, paybacks, payoffs, and the vindictiveness. It's ugly, ugly work. Most would have no idea their own government operates in such a shameful, despicable manner.

Gentry writes in an engaging narrative style that's easy to read and compelling. The book is well paced and very cohesive despite covering a wide time period and a diverse range of incidents. The book is lengthy and comprehensive. It does not skimp on details. I'm hard pressed to imagine a more thorough account.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in this period of contemporary American history or the fascinating personality that was J. Edgar Hoover.

Leave history to historians..........2006-01-13

I didn't read the book. I was looking for a serious biography of Hoover, after seeing Oliver Stone's primitive representation of a dark perverted homosexual in "Nixon". I thought : "well, it's 2006, this should be a serious object for research now". Looks like I'm wrong. The cover quotes Newsweek: "Eleanor Roosevelt was right. Hoover's FBI was American's Gestapo." Well, this is appalling. I know that Eleanor was a Gestapo specialist, as I know Newsweek is a well-documented contemporary history magazine. I mean, those are the ones you should trust when you look for information either on Gestapo, or Hoover. It means the FBI/Hoover deported Jews and tortured thousands of people, doesn't it ? Do I get the information right ? I just don't get it: either there's no serious american historians of the 20th american history main characters ; or there is a liberal new order of things on such publications. Maybe there's another possibility, just tell me what's wrong here. Please.

Cruel Doubt/No Minor Chords: My Days in Hollywood/J. Edgar Hoover: The Man & the Secrets/Learning to Play God (Reader's Digest Today's Best Nonfiction, Volume 18: 1992)

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Cruel Doubt/No Minor Chords: My Days in Hollywood/J. Edgar Hoover: The Man & the Secrets/Learning to Play God (Reader's Digest Today's Best Nonfiction, Volume 18: 1992)
Joe McGinniss , Andre Previn , Curt Gentry , and Robert Marion
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MUPB6Q

Product Description

Cuel doubt by Joe McGinniss, No Minor Chords, My Days in Hollywood by Andre Previn, J. Edgar Hoover, The Man and the Secrets by Curt Gentry, Learning to Play God, The Coming of Age of a Young Doctor by Robert Marion, M.D.

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Cruel Doubt/No Minor Chords: My Days in Hollywood/J. Edgar Hoover: The Man & the Secrets/Learning to Play God (Reader's Digest Today's Best Nonfiction, Volume 18: 1992)
Joe McGinniss , Andre Previn , Curt Gentry , and MD Robert Marion
Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FPTENO

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4 nonfiction stories

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J. Edgar Hoover - the Man and the Secrets

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J. Edgar Hoover - the Man and the Secrets
Curt Gentry
Manufacturer: Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O63656

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J. Edgar Hoover: The man and the Secrets
Curt Gentry
Manufacturer: NORTON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H2EGS8

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The Secret History of a Great American
Hoover's Hidden History

J. Edgar Hoover: The Man & the Secrets
Curt Gentry
Manufacturer: Diane Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0788151800

Customer Reviews:

The Secret History of a Great American.......2003-01-23

A Republican President is besieged by criticism. He believes the Democratic party headquarters has a file that would damage his reputation, so he orders a burglary. R Nixon in 1972? No, H Hoover in 1930 (p.153)! 1933 saw a change in Administrations. J Edgar Hoover again demonstrated his usefulness to the new AG (p.155). Page 163 tells of some doubts about Bruno Hauptmann's guilt: his fingerprints did not match "the latent impressions developed on the ransom notes and the ransom money" found in the garage! Page 181 notes the friends of Hoover; one was AA Berle, "whose former commanding officer was General Van Deman".

Chapter 15 discusses the arrests made when Hoover was on the scene; he was a better administrator than a detective. In the 1930s he personally conducted several vice raids in Miami, until complaints about ruining the tourist business brought them to an end. Chapter 16 tells about the proposed coup d'etat against FDR. General Smedley Butler, who was forced to retire after criticizing Mussolini, was approached by bankers who wanted to make him head of the American Legion (p.201). They wanted the American Legion to copy the Fascisti of Italy, and lead a march on Washington to change the Administration. Page 203 tells of the American Liberty League, the clique behind this proposed putsch. General Butler took his story to Hoover ("no federal crime involved"), then to the new House Un-American Activities Committee. Many of the sponsors of the American Liberty League then withdrew their support; other groups (like 'America First') were created (p.204). The FBI began intelligence investigations into the Nazi movement, a departure from criminal investigations.

On 8/24/1936 FDR held a private meeting with Hoover. The new task would be to investigate Fascism and Communism. Did the FBI lack authority? Hoover said he could do this only if the State Dept requested it. That was done the next day (p.207). On 11/30/1939 Hoover told Congress he had resurrected the despised GID to list suspected individuals, groups, and organizations. If needed, he could imprison "both aliens and citizens", such as radical labor leaders, critical journalists and writers, and certain members of Congress (p.213)! Complaints to FDR about Hoover keeping tabs on their activities helped Hoover (p.223), because FDR like to hear about this. FDR also ordered Hoover to do more political intelligence on his opponents (p.225). One of FDR's secret tapes records him giving instructions on how to smear Willkie (p.227).

Page 232 tells how FDR overruled the Supreme Court decision against wiretapping! Page 234 tells of the ACLU "stooge". Page 241 tells of FDR's deal with HUAC: if people couldn't be prosecuted, then HUAC could smear them. Pages 269-273 tell about Dusko Popov's visit to America, and his unheeded warning about an attack on Pearl Harbor. (See Robert Stinnett's book "Day of Deceit".) Page 282 tells of mail opening being done in WW II and for decades after. Page 283 tells of rumors of planting incriminating evidence! Bugging hotel rooms is noted on page 286. The bitter rivalry between Hoover and Henry Morgenthau Jr is discussed on page 293. There were constant battles with Army and Navy intelligence. Page 296 tells of Pearl Harbor investigations.

Hoover was a top-level bachelor bureaucrat who remained in office during many administrations. We will never see his king again. (Congress passed a law against it.)

Hoover's Hidden History.......2003-01-14

The first sixty pages tell of the three days after Hoover's death. AAG Patrick Gray asked AD John Mohr for "the secret files" only to be told there were no secret files (p.37). They used code words to hide them, such as "Official Confidential" and "Do Not File" files! Page 73 mentions that Hoover was "in charge of counter-radical activities as special assistant to the attorney general" since 1917. Hoover was a strong proponent of "dragnet" raids, made without warrants and probable cause (pp. 72-3). While this is usually censored in the history books, some WW II era movies show Nazis doing this in occupied countries. Page 77 tells how a prediction of insurrection and terrorism resulted in an increased budget!

Hoover was appointed chief of the General Intelligence Division in 1919 (p.79). One-third to one-half of special agents investigated threatened strikes; the DOJ became a national strikebreaking agency! Since 1914 the cost of living had doubled, and wages declined by 14%. Their penetration and control of the two Communist parties allowed them to arrange meetings so their members could be easily arrested (p.91)! The affidavits of probable cause were almost devoid of proof (p.89). (I wonder if this could ever happen again?) Page 93 tells how the BI's undercover agents handed out red membership cards to often illiterate aliens. After warrantless arrests, the "third degree" was used to get their statements. Since no Revolution occurred afterwards, the 'NY Times" claimed a success! Months later the National Popular Government League released its study, and said the Department of Justice was breaking the laws and violating the Constitution (p.98). The twelve signers were famous lawyers. Hoover immediately opened a file on each! Other lawyers condemned these raids, including two future Supreme Court Justices.

Page 101 explains how this "Double Cross System" worked: "beyond reasonable doubt, the Government owns and operates some part of the Communist Party". This suspected agent had helped write two key documents used in all of these cases. During WW II some in British Intellignce criticized Hoover's arrest of the 8 Nazi spies, saying they should have doubled them. But they didn't understand American politics! They may have looked down on the Americans, but Hoover (and others) were running agents while these critics were still in diapers.

Hoover showed his talents by being kept on with a new administration. He investigated Harding's political opponents, and easily switched loyalties (p.109). Hoover received support from military intelligence (p.11). Page 114 tells how investigating Mann Act violations created massive amounts of data on corruption. Some prominent names (Rockefeller, Mellon, and Vanderbilt) profited from prostitution as landlords. Page 120 tells of a proposal to create sympathy for the Attorney General by bombing his house!

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Policy Studies Journal, published by Policy Studies Organization on September 22, 1993. The length of the article is 3011 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets. (book reviews)
Author: Kenneth O'Reilly
Publication: Policy Studies Journal (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1993
Publisher: Policy Studies Organization
Volume: v21 Issue: n3 Page: p609(6)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets.: An article from: Columbia Journalism Review

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J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets.: An article from: Columbia Journalism Review
Piers Brendon
Manufacturer: Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008YX1FE
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Columbia Journalism Review, published by Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism on March 1, 1992. The length of the article is 1152 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets.
Author: Piers Brendon
Publication: Columbia Journalism Review (Refereed)
Date: March 1, 1992
Publisher: Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism
Volume: v30 Issue: n6 Page: p50(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Original and compelling, Laura Briggs's Reproducing Empire shows how, for both Puerto Ricans and North Americans, ideologies of sexuality, reproduction, and gender have shaped relations between the island and the mainland. From science to public policy, the "culture of poverty" to overpopulation, feminism to Puerto Rican nationalism, this book uncovers the persistence of concerns about motherhood, prostitution, and family in shaping the beliefs and practices of virtually every player in the twentieth-century drama of Puerto Rican colonialism. In this way, it sheds light on the legacies haunting contemporary debates over globalization.
Puerto Rico is a perfect lens through which to examine colonialism and globalization because for the past century it has been where the United States has expressed and fine-tuned its attitudes toward its own expansionism. Puerto Rico's history holds no simple lessons for present-day debate over globalization but does unearth some of its history. Reproducing Empire suggests that interventionist discourses of rescue, family, and sexuality fueled U.S. imperial projects and organized American colonialism.
Through the politics, biology, and medicine of eugenics, prostitution, and birth control, the United States has justified its presence in the territory's politics and society. Briggs makes an innovative contribution to Puerto Rican and U.S. history, effectively arguing that gender has been crucial to the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico, and more broadly, to U.S. expansion elsewhere.

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Michael Chorost became a cyborg on October 1, 2001, the day his new ear was booted up. Born hard of hearing in 1964, he went completely deaf in his thirties. Rather than live in silence, he chose to have a computer surgically embedded in his skull to artificially restore his hearing.

This is the story of Chorost's journey -- from deafness to hearing, from human to cyborg -- and how it transformed him. The melding of silicon and flesh has long been the stuff of science fiction. But as Chorost reveals in this witty, poignant, and illuminating memoir, fantasy is now giving way to reality.

Chorost found his new body mystifyingly mechanical: kitchen magnets stuck to his head, and he could plug himself directly into a CD player. His hearing was routinely upgraded with new software. All this forced him to confront complex questions about humans in the machine age: When the senses become programmable, can we trust what they tell us about the world? Will cochlear implants destroy the signing deaf community? And above all, are cyborgs still human?

A brilliant dispatch from the technological frontier, Rebuilt is also an ode to sound. Whether Chorost is adjusting his software in a desperate attempt to make the world sound "right" again, exploring the neurobiology of the ear, or reflecting on the simple pleasure of his mother's voice, he invites us to think about what we hear -- and how we experience the world -- in an altogether new way.

Brimming with insight and written with dry, self-deprecating humor, this quirky coming-of-age story unveils, in a way no other book has, the magnificent possibilities of a new technological era.

For more information about Michael Chorost and Rebuilt, visit http://www.rebuilt-thebook.com.

Customer Reviews:

My Ears Needed This.......2007-03-08

Excellent book for the hearing impaired and non-impaired alike. Much detail on living and learning to adapt in a hearing world. Highly recommended.

More Human than Human.......2007-02-12

Though a rabid sci-fi fan most of my life, I didn't become interested in the subject of real world cyborgs until my own precipitous hearing deterioration. Chorost's book is fulfilling on many fronts for me: his firsthand experience and knowledge of cochlear implants (which appear to be in my future); his very human account of his social struggles; and his obvious love and breadth of knowledge of science fiction, to name just a few. To my own surprise, I devoured this book in a few days. One of the most engaging and satisfying reads I have had in years. Chorost, in my opinion is, to quote Dr. Eldon Tyrell (or Rob Zombie, if you prefer): "More human than human" in this work.

Valuable personal story.......2007-01-12

Much of the book deals with experiencing deafness and a cochlear implant. These portions I found interesting and informative. Other personal issues were much less interesting to me since they did not seem to illuminate the main point.

Rebuilt.. review.......2006-06-15

As a cochlear implantee ( I also have an Bionic Ear from Advanced Bionics) I highly recommend this book for any one with a cochlear implant, any candidate, or just anyone who is interested in how this amazing technology has had impact on those of us that either suddenly or over a period of time, became deaf. Michael combines a lot of technological information, along with the emotional journey we CI users go through. His description of becoming cyborg and what that means describes how technology today can have an effect on humans. M ichael is a brilant writer with an engaging style. At times this is not an 'easy read" because of the many references to technology, and his use of a sophisticated vocabulary.. but over all, it adds to the other books that describe the cochlear implant journey.

An interesting and unique book.......2005-11-12

I enjoyed reading this book. It gives a unique insight into what it is like to use a prosthetic sensory device. Chorost has done a great job of describing the odd sound sensations that he experienced as he learned to use the implant. Since he had spent many years hearing with the aid of amplifiers, he can describe the artificial hearing in terms of sounds that a hearing person can relate to.

His descriptions of how software changes modified his hearing experience are very good. He also did a good job of describing the complex technology of the implant in terms that can be understood by a general audience.

Some parts of the book where he discusses his social life drift out of relevance for a while. He could have shortened those parts or left some of it out, but it does not spoil the overall quality of the book, which is excellent.

Book Description

Well known for his imaginative treatment of environmental issues, Kevin Dann presents a natural history of the Lewis Creek watershed in Vermont's Champlain Valley, told largely through the lives and thought of three individuals,whose investigations brought them into close contact with the area. Congregationalist minister John Perry (1825 - 1872) conducted paleontological research on the region's Paleozoic rock and attempted to negotiate his era's confrontation between science and religion. Rowland Robinson (1833 - 1900) was a Quaker farmer and author/artist whose historical fiction often dealt with issues of human impact on this watershed. The first plant-hunting expeditions of another Quaker farmer and noted plant collector, Cyrus Pringle (1838 - 1911), took place in this watershed as well.

Dann's account of these three men, whose lives span nearly a century, graphically illustrates contemporary human-nature relationships at the same time that it suggests the limits of science in circumscribing our experience of the physical landscape. The experience of pain and loss is documented along with the stories of success and celebration, since, as Dann writes, "Genuine places, like human hearts, have dark recesses within them, and by examining these recesses within the Lewis Creek watershed, we take a small step toward demythologizing Vermont."

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