Social commentator and preeminent western historian Bernard DeVoto vigorously defended public lands in the West against commercial interests. By the time of his death in 1955, DeVoto had published criticism, history, and fiction. He had won both the Pulitzer and Bancroft prizes. But his most passionate writing--at once incisive and eloquent--advocated conservation of America's prairies, rangeland, forests, mountains, canyons, and deserts. This collection showcases the complexity, depth, and breadth of DeVoto's thinking. These essays (many of which originally appeared in the renowned Harper's column The Easy Chair) persuasively advocate stewardship of public land. DeVoto addressed the plundering of resources by absentee eastern corporations, westerners' conflicted relationship with the forces of exploitation, and the degradation of the national parks.--From publisher description.