“A richly observant memoir of a coast-to-coast journey along the US-Canada border . . . An armchair traveler’s delight” (Kirkus Reviews). “Part travelogue, part memoir, part meditation, part exploration,” North Country is an account of a trip along the northern border of the United States in search of the country’s last unspoiled frontiers (The Boston Sunday Globe). In this vast, sparsely settled territory, Howard Frank Mosher found both a harsh and beautiful landscape and some of the continent’s most independent men and women. Here, he brings this remote area to vivid life in a book “bright with anecdote and history and lore and most importantly with affection for his human subjects” (Richard Ford, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Independence Day). “A classic road book. You could, with confidence, place this book on the shelf next to such American classics as John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley and Jonathan Raban’s Old Glory.” —Detroit Free Press “What Mosher’s northern journey is really about is our society’s loss of Eden, the garden we were promised when we came here. The garden we’ve turned into pulp fiction and rocket ranges. The very fact that this brave book can stir up so many thoughts about the predicaments of civilization is surely an indication that it is well worth reading.” —Ottawa Citizen

Travel north from the upper Midwest’s metropolises, and before long you’re “Up North”—a region that’s hard to define but unmistakable to any resident or tourist. Crops give way to forests, mines (or their remains) mark the landscape, and lakes multiply, becoming ever clearer until you reach the vastness of the Great Lakes. How to characterize this region, as distinct from the agrarian Midwest, is the question North Country seeks to answer, as a congenial group of scholars, journalists, and public intellectuals explores the distinctive landscape, culture, and history that define the northern margins of the American Midwest. From the glacial past to the present day, these essays range across the histories of the Dakota and Ojibwe people, colonial imperial rivalries and immigration, and conflicts between the economic imperatives of resource extraction and the stewardship of nature. The book also considers literary treatments of the area—and arguably makes its own contributions to that literature, as some of the authors search for the North Country through personal essays, while others highlight individuals who are identified with the area, like Sigurd Olson, John Barlow Martin, and Russell Kirk. From the fur trade to tourism, fisheries to supper clubs, Finnish settlers to Native treaty rights, the nature of the North Country emerges here in all its variety and particularity: as clearly distinct from the greater Midwest as it is part of the American heartland.

In 1862, four years after Minnesota was ratified as the thirty-second state in the Union, simmering tensions between indigenous Dakota and white settlers culminated in the violent, six-week-long U.S.–Dakota War. Hundreds of lives were lost on both sides, and the war ended with the execution of thirty-eight Dakotas on December 26, 1862, in Mankato, Minnesota—the largest mass execution in American history. The following April, after suffering a long internment at Fort Snelling, the Dakota and Winnebago peoples were forcefully removed to South Dakota, precipitating the near destruction of the area’s native communities while simultaneously laying the foundation for what we know and recognize today as Minnesota. In North Country: The Making of Minnesota, Mary Lethert Wingerd unlocks the complex origins of the state—origins that have often been ignored in favor of legend and a far more benign narrative of immigration, settlement, and cultural exchange. Moving from the earliest years of contact between Europeans and the indigenous peoples of the western Great Lakes region to the era of French and British influence during the fur trade and beyond, Wingerd charts how for two centuries prior to official statehood Native people and Europeans in the region maintained a hesitant, largely cobeneficial relationship. Founded on intermarriage, kinship, and trade between the two parties, this racially hybridized society was a meeting point for cultural and economic exchange until the western expansion of American capitalism and violation of treaties by the U.S. government during the 1850s wore sharply at this tremulous bond, ultimately leading to what Wingerd calls Minnesota’s Civil War. A cornerstone text in the chronicle of Minnesota’s history, Wingerd’s narrative is augmented by more than 170 illustrations chosen and described by Kirsten Delegard in comprehensive captions that depict the fascinating, often haunting representations of the region and its inhabitants over two and a half centuries. North Country is the unflinching account of how the land the Dakota named Mini Sota Makoce became the State of Minnesota and of the people who have called it, at one time or another, home.

In celebration of his first half century of life, Mosher set off on a journey, following America's northern border from coast to coast, to discover a harsh and beautiful region populated by some of the continent's most self-sufficient, independent-minded men and women.

Challenging hikes to the precipices of dramatic cliffs, gentle walks to breathtaking waterfalls, and satisfying rambles to geological formations that reveal millions of years of natural history. In the same class as the Appalachian Trail, the North Country National Scenic Trail is over twice as long as its older cousin. 50 Hikes on Michigan & Wisconsin's North Country Trail is a guidebook for both the day hiker and the long-distance backpacker. With full-color maps and elevation profiles, it covers the certified trail on the ground as well as portions yet to be certified in adjoining states. Included are resources for long-distance backpackers to help them connect trail segments and find local services, as well as mileage charts and other valuable information. Nearly 1,000 miles of trail and connecting routes are covered.

Irving Bacheller's 'The Light in the Clearing: A Tale of the North Country in the Time of Silas Wright' is a captivating novel that transports readers to the rugged landscape of the North Country in the early 19th century. The book, written in a lyrical and descriptive style, delves into the themes of resilience, community, and the pursuit of happiness. Bacheller's vivid storytelling brings to life the challenges and triumphs of the characters as they navigate the complexities of frontier life and politics. The novel is a compelling blend of historical fiction and social commentary, offering readers a glimpse into a bygone era through a rich and engaging narrative. A must-read for those interested in American history and literature. Irving Bacheller, a renowned author and journalist, drew inspiration from his own experiences growing up in the North Country to write this masterpiece. His keen eye for detail and deep understanding of human nature shines through in 'The Light in the Clearing,' making it a timeless work that continues to resonate with readers today. This book is highly recommended for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and immersive reading experience that explores the timeless themes of love, loss, and the enduring human spirit.