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Note: Items shown in boldface are believed to be available for purchase at the time this bibliography was last revised. No attempt has been made to include entries from encyclopedias or similar reference works.
Austin, Richard Cartright,
Baptized into Wilderness: A Christian Perspective on John Muir
(Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1987).
This outstanding,
yet brief,
book by a Presbyterian minister explores Muir's religious expression
in his commitment to wilderness,
and leads the author to propose an environmental theology
that relates Christian faith to environmental concerns.
Does better justice to Muir in a scant 94 pages than many other works.
Highly recommended.
Badè, William F.,
Life and Letters of John Muir
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1924)
(2 Vols.).
Reprint of 1924 edition,
$65.00.
(New York: AMS Pr.).
Reprinted in
Gifford, Terry, (Editor)
John Muir: His Life and Letters and Other Writings.
(Seattle: Mountaineers Books, and London: Baton Wicks, 1996). $38.00.
The Life and Letters of John Muir is included here, as well as under biographies, because this work by Muir's
literary executor, William Frederic Badè's work is comprised of
extensive extracts from Muir's unfinished autobiography and extensive excerpts of Muir's letters. This book is now accessible to a new generation of readers in Terry Gifford's new collection,
John Muir: His Life and Letters and Other Writings
(see
full annotation
under Anthologies).
A book jacket summary is available.
Carrol, Theresa, John Muir Sings: A Collection of Scottish Airs Sung by the Naturalist. Illustrated by Nancy Carrol. (1978.) This out-of-print booklet contains a general introduction about Muir's love for the Scottish language and music, and individual introductions to each of ten traditional Scottish songs showing their relationship to Muir, along with the complete lyrics and musical notation. The traditional Scottish songs featured include "Gilderoy," "The Cuckoo," "Oh! Why Left I My hame?," "Highland Mary," "Thou Bonnie Wood of Craigie Len," "The Banks o' Doon," "the Lass o' Gowrie," "O'er the Water to Charlie," "Old Hundredth," and "For A' That An' A' That."
Cohen, Michael P.,
The Pathless Way: John Muir and American Wilderness
(Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Press 1984).
This well-written,
thoughtful and scholarly study is focused
on Muir's character revealed through his writings.
A book jacket summary of this book is available.
Fleck, Richard F.,
Henry Thoreau and John Muir Among the Indians
(Hamden, Connecticut: Archon Books, 1985).
The author,
a professor of English at the University of Denver,
devotes considerable space in this small book about John Muir among the Digger,
Thlinkit, and Eskimoan People.
Fleck believes that the Indians of California and Alaska
confirmed Muir's belief in the need for a harmonious relationship with nature.
Includes a fascinating appendix of
Thoreau and Muir's unpublished manuscripts on primal cultures of the American Wilderness.
A book jacket summary of this book is available.
Fox, Stephen,
John Muir and His Legacy: The American Conservation Movement
(Boston: Little, Brown & Co. 1981).
The book begins with a biography of Muir,
making use of previously unavailable materials,
and concludes with an outstanding history of the American conservation movement,
focusing on the movement's volunteers.
Highly recommended.
A book jacket summary of this book is available.
Gisel, Bonnie Johanna, editor, Kindred and Related Spirits:
The Letters of John Muir and Jeanne C. Carr
Foreword by Ronald H. Limbaugh (The University of Utah Press, 2001)
Superb collection of the 30-year correspondence between John Muir and his
mentor, Jeanne C. Carr, who influenced Muir in his career, travels, and writing,
and in introducing him to notable people like Ralph Waldo Emerson. In addition
to correcting errors in the historical record, Gisel provides illuminating
chapter notes to the letters explaining and amplifying their content. More
than fifty photographs and illustrations, including many never-before published
botanical drawings by Carr, complement the text.
A publisher's press
release of this book is availble.
Gisel, Gonnie Johanna, Nature’s Beloved Son, Rediscovering
John Muir’s Botanical Legacy, with images by Stephen J. Joseph
(Berkeley, Heyday Books, forthcoming November, 2008).
Publisher's Catalog summary
See a preview photo gallery of close-ups of John Muir's botanical
collections from the book, at John
Muir's Botany, with photographs by Stephen
Joseph.
Good, Cherry
On the Trail of John Muir
(Edinburgh: Luath Press Ltd. 2000)
This is not just another biography. Each stage of Muir's life and development is set within
the context of the places that were special, magical to him - the Canadian forests, the glaciers of
Alaska, Arizona's Grand Canyon, and most important of all, the High Sierra of California,
where the John Muir Trail now runs for over two hundred miles from Yosemite Valley to the
summit of Mount Whitney. By following the directions and maps included in this book readers are able to participate in Muir's adventures on both sides of the Atlantic, to gain some geographically-based insight into Muir's world.
Also available:
Holmes, Steven J.
The Young John Muir : An Environmental Biography
336 pages (April 1999)
University of Wisconsin Press; ISBN: 0299161544
$55.00 hardcover; $22.95 paperback.
A scholarly analysis of John Muir's Youth, from age three in Scotland, to his early years in Yosemite in his early thirties. The author, a lecturer in history and literature at Harvard University, draws upon psychoanalysis, environmental psychology, cultural history, and religious studies to inform this work.
Huber, J. Parker, A Wanderer All My Days: John Muir in New England
357
pages, paperback. (Green Frigate Books, April, 2007). ISBN 978-0-9717468-4-8.
Traces the footsteps of John Muir on
his five trips to Boston and other parts of New England, including Vermont,
New Hampshire, and Maine, from 1893 to 1912. Huber meticulously uncovers the
places Muir stayed, the important people he met, the lectures he gave, and
the routes he took in the mountains of Maine and along the streets of Cambridge.
A book jacket summary of
this book is available.
Limbaugh, Ronald H., John Muir's "Stickeen" and the Lessons of Nature (Fairbanks, AK: University of Alaska Press 1996). Black and White illustrations; Index. Appendix: "Notes on 'Stickeen' in John Muir's Library." 185 pp.
This book-length study of Muir's famous dog story "Stickeen" is more than the narrow focus the title suggests: the book uses "Stickeen" to show how Muir's literary creativity grew, and how it was influenced by major turn-of-the-century ideas and events. Moreover, Limbaugh notes that "Stickeen" is the only literary product from Muir's pen that can be directly and extensively linked to ideas formulated from the books of his personal library. Accordingly, "Studying its origin and evolution is essential to understanding Muir's development as a writer and as an advocate for the moral equality of all species."
A book jacket summary of this book is available.
Lyon, Thomas J.,
John Muir
(Boise, ID: Boise St. Univ. 1972).
48 pp.
A concise description of Muir and his writings
from the Boise State College Western Writers Series.
Miller, Sally R.,
Editor,
John Muir: Life and Work
(Albuquerque,
University of New Mexico Press,
1993).
A collection of essays derived
from the third John Muir Conference at the University of the Pacific,
in 1990.
Explores Muir relationship with his family,
religious and literary influences on his philosophy,
the development of his concept of ecology,
his contributions to geology and botany,
and his travels in the Sierra,
Yellowstone,
and Australasia.
A publisher's press release is available.
Miller, Sally R.,
Editor,
John Muir in Historical Perspective
(New York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc., 1999)
Features the best presentations made at the California History Institute conference
on John Muir at the University of the Pacific in 1996, the fourth Muir conference
held in 16 years. Four chapters cover some of Muir's friends and traveling companions,
including the Strentzel family, Jeanne C. Carr, John Swett, and C.D. Robinson.
Three chapters feature literary themes, including Muir's religious environmentalism,
his role in the American Romantic movement, and his views on Ruskin. Four chapters
focus on the theme of Environment, including Muir's first summer in Yosemite,
his views on the geological formation of the Sierra, his influence on pioneer
conservationists in the Pacific Northwest, and his travels to South America and
southern Africa. An epilogue relates the re-discovery of Muir's "Twenty-Hill
Hollow." A scholarly work with valuable footnotes, the book includes a useful
index.
Also available:
Miller, Sally M. and Morrison, Daryl, Editors, John Muir: Family,
Friends and Adventures (Albuquerque: University
of New Mexico Press, 2005)
A collection of essays derived from the fifth
John Muir Conference hosted
by the John Muir Center at the University of the Pacific, held in 2001
at the Feather River Inn. Includes an Introduction by the conference
director, Bonnie Johanna Gisel. Topics cover Muir's relationship with contemporaries
Jeanne Carr, William Keith, Gifford Pinchot, John Swett, and with his
own family and children. Other essays cover Muir's adventures, including
his travels to Africa and South America, and the importance of his advocacy
for preserving the wilderness to our culture. This book includes more
photographs than previous editions in the series, some 28 images in total.
The publisher's
press release is also available.
The Pacific Historian,
The World of John Muir
(Stockton: Holt-Atherton Pacific Center for Western Studies,
U. of the Pacific,
1981).
A fine collection of scholarly essays with historical pictures,
by several notable Muir experts.
The Pacific Historian,
John Muir: Life and Legacy
(Stockton: Holt-Atherton Center for Western Studies,
Univ. of the Pacific 1984).
This publications consists of excellent papers read
at a major conference held in 1985 at the University of the Pacific,
Stockton, CA.
Pomeroy, Elizabeth, John Muir: A Naturalist in Southern California
(Pasadena: Many Moons Press, 2001) 148 pages, soft cover. Illustrated with historic photographs and original drawings by Pasadena artist Joseph Stoddard.
This important book tells the story of Muir's visits to southern California, and his many friends there, including Ezra and Jeanne Carr, Theodore Lukens, Charles Lummis, John and Katherine Hooker; and his hob-nobbing in Pasadena with such notables as Andrew Carnegie, John Burroughs, and Theodore Roosevelt. The text is thorough and engaging, and is further enhanced by the inclusion of correspondence between Muir and his southern California friends, and transcripts of historical newspaper articles about Muir's visits to southern California. A nice final touch is the summary of several places in southern California associated with Muir which are available to visit. This is the expanded, wide-release edition of the next listing.
Also available:
Publisher's press release and ordering information.
Pomeroy, Elizabeth,
John Muir in Southern California
(Pasadena: The Castle Press, 1999)
See listing above for the current edition of this out-of-print book.
This edition is a limited edition (500 copies) book of 63 pages, with 23 photographs
of Muir and places associated with him, many previously unpublished, and includes
detailed notes on sources. Tells the story of Muir's visits to southern California,
and his many friends there, including Ezra and Jeanne Carr, Theodore Lukens,
Charles Lummis, John and Katherine Hooker; and his hob-nobbing in Pasadena with
such notables as Andrew Carnegie, John Burroughs, and Theodore Roosevelt. The
final chapter tells of Muir's final days in Daggett, in the Mojave Desert. A
final chapter summarizes several places in southern California associated with
Muir, such as the long-gone John Muir Lodge in Big Santa Anita Canyon of the
San Gabriel Mountains, and newly re-dedicated Muir Peak near Mt. Wilson. This
edition has been superseded by the above - listing, which has been expanded and
improved with additional illustrations.
Smith, Herbert,
John Muir
(Twayne U.S. Authors Series)
Reprint of 1964 edition.
(New York: NCUP, Inc.).
This literary analysis is rather dated,
and is largely grounded upon the author's typifying Muir as Transcendentalist.
Stanley, Millie,
The Heart of John Muir's World: Wisconsin, Family, and Wilderness Discovery
(Madison: Prairie Oaks Press,1995).
Paperback,
$16.95.
This intimate study of Muir focuses on his life-long close relationships
with family members and friends,
showing that Muir loved people as much as the Wilderness.
A
publisher's press release about this book is available.
Turner, Frederick W.,
John Muir: Rediscovering America
originally published as
Rediscovering America: John Muir in His Time and Ours
(New York: Viking Penguin, and San Francisco: Sierra Club Books 1985). This book has been re-published in September, 2000, by
Merloyd Lawrence Book/ Perseus Publishing as ISBN is 0-7382-0375-0..
This modern scholarly biography is especially valuable for its presentation of Muir in the historic context of his times.
Vale, Thomas R., and Geraldine R. Vale,
Walking With Muir Across Yosemite
(Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1998).
Essays and natural history tracing Muir's travels in Yosemite.
Walker, Franklin, San Francisco's Literary Frontier (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1939).
This book covering hundreds of writers has only a brief statement about John
Muir. Walker provides a brief biographical sketch of Muir's life and his writing.
He sums up Muir's writing thusly: "His style was marked by a flair for unusual
metaphors and an intensity which at its worst produced the over florid, at its
best the phrase that glowed. In John Muir's work, man and style were indistinguishable."