A Land Gone Lonesome: An Inland Voyage Along the Yukon River

by Dan O'Neill and Daniel T. O'Neill

Book Overview

In his square-sterned canoe, Alaskan author Dan O'Neill set off down the majestic Yukon River, beginning at Dawson, Yukon Territory, site of the Klondike gold rush. The journey he makes to Circle City, Alaska, is more than a voyage into northern wilderness, it is an expedition into the history of the river and a record of the inimitable inhabitants of the region, historic and contemporary. A literary kin of John Muir's Travels in Alaska and John McPhee's...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 158243364X
• ISBN13: 9781582433646
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.7" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

O'neill, a very readable master historian

In A Land Gone Lonesome Dan O'Neill floats the Yukon River area visited by John McPhee over 30 years earlier. The differences over time are striking as are the differences in the authors. While McPhee was a perceptive visitor spinning a great tale, O'Neill is a long time resident, and his narration reveals a deep love of the land coupled with a keen eye towards historical perspective. He discusses in detail the effects of the National Park Service's administration, or perhaps mis-administration.If you liked McPhee, you'll love O'Neill. O'Neill has a comfortable free-flowing style appropriate for a tale about Alaska's greatest river. If you are into rural lifestyles, Alaska history, the Yukon River, or Alaska wilderness - this is a must read.

A wealth of Knowledge

This book is so visual. My OH my...reading this book, with my Alaska ATLAS in hand, I was transported to the Yukon - Charley region almost as if I were there!!!!!!!!! Then I went onto Google Earth and zeroing in on places like Circle and Eagle was unreal...Thank you Dan, for a terrific, fantastic, ESCAPE from the daily grind. The only thing better...to buy a van, load up a boat, and driver to Circle, Alaska and shove off!!!!!!!!!

How men conquer the nature

Very interesting and educational especially for me who is not familiar with the hystory and geography of Alaska.It is amazing how this people who lived there fought for theirlives in this harsh enviroment.It is sorry that the goverment is more interested in searching for oil there that to preserve this unic land and help more people who want to stay there. What I find a little negative in this book is the missing of photos of the Alascan landscape

Man and Nature

A gracefully written account of travels on the Yukon River. In his appreciation for the beauties of place and his understanding of man's place in nature O'Neill reminds one of Wendell Berry (the highest praise I can give). O'Neill also underscores the bureaucratic mentality of the National Park Service that has systematically eliminated the intentions of the legislation establishing the Yukon preserve.

Like Coming Into the Country Part 2

It seems that ever since John McPhee's Coming into the Country came out in the seventies, all stories of living in the Alaskan wilderness are compared to it. This book in many ways revisits that book and lets you know what happened to the self sufficient trappers and homesteaders that McPhee met in the seventies. And apparently they are gone. Much like McPhee, this book paints pictures of the upper reaches of the Yukon River and it's people with words. The author splices anecdotes and histories to the people and places he passes on the river and brings you along for the trip and the politics that have created the situation on the river today. This book can definitely stand on it's own, but I suggest reading Coming Into the Country first, if nothing else than for the fact that you will be struck by the differences created by thirty years and some legislation. I hate to keep going back to McPhee's book to review this one, but if that book is a modern classic, than this one deserves the same billing. Great reading.