Hudson Valley Lives: Writings From the 17th Century to the Present

The Hudson Valley in New York State has captured the imagination of an extraordinary number of America's most significant thinkers and writers from the time of the early Dutch settlers to the present day. This superb, one-of-a-kind collection brings together pieces by Henry James, Washington Irving, John Burroughs, Lewis Mumford, Carl Carmer, Roland Van Zandt, Alf Evers and many others, writing on subjects as diverse as flyfishing and Shaker chairs and including recent essays on current concerns including the Storm King controversy and other conservation stand-offs in the region.In her introduction, Bonnie Marranca writes: "What makes a Hudson Valley life different from any other life? It begins with knowing where you live." These narratives provide a glimpse of a particular life at a particular time, vastly different in voice and perspective; the common ground joining these lives over the centuries is a strong sense of "knowing where you live." Through these essays, the travelers, artists, inventors, writers, statesmen, scientists and historians who have made this celebrated region their home speak of a shared heritage to Hudson Valley residents and travelers of the present day.