The Life and Truth of George R. Stewart: A Literary Biography of the Author of Earth Abides

Don Scott's historical biography of George R. Stewart is masterful. Written exceedingly well, the biography is a beautiful narrative of the life and significance of Stewart's contributions.Framed within the context of the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship, Scott provides a perfect balance to the framework for Stewart's like - the Scottish Enlightenment, late-19th Century California transition to the 20th Century, the Berkeley school of scholarship, and Scott's unique and deep understanding of the National Park Service. It is all here.Each significant chapter of Stewart's life is framed around the groundbreaking publication of each of his novels - Storm, Fire, Earth Abides, - where theses works came frame and the why. One can easily visualize Stewart, working and researching, and sharing a literary art form that is uniquely American, uniquely West, and a function of a dialogue with great minds at Berkeley and beyond, Sauer, Stegner and many more.Stewart through Scott's surprisingly good prose is the first ecological historian and Scott shows us exactly why. Scott's work is a jumping off point not only to each of Stewart's works, but also significant aspects of the history of the American West, and the socio-cultural-ecological roots of our collective epigenetic sense of place. Scott cares deeply about this author as a literary figure but also as an essential part of history for whom we must know. To miss Stewart's life is to miss a key part of the West, and the grandeur of understanding our place in the land.Well done Don Scott - you make all Rangers proud of your well written, well researched contribution to the story of the George R. Stewart. If there was a model for how a National Park Ranger Naturalist would write a book about a significant figure, this is the book.

I was very impressed with this book. I have always had a liking for George R. Stewart’s work and have long had a desire to learn more about him. However, before I found this book, finding any detailed information about Stewart has been frustrating.After reading this book many questions I’d had about Stewart’s life were answered. Donald Scott has done highly extensive research on his subject and it is very obvious that he put an awful lot of time and effort into this project.The book is quite simply a “must have” for all fans of George Stewart. But what’s more is that Scott has made a great case to show that Stewart was a very important American author who made a big impact on 20th century literature. Therefore, this book will be of value to anyone with an interest in literature. Highly recommended – five stars !

If you want to know more about the man who wrote Earth Abides, than this is the book. It is a full biography that has a personal angle, in clear and often lyrical prose, Mr. Scott does indeed get to the 'life & truth' of GRS. As a reader and owner of all Stewart's works, I have since my first reading of Earth Abides in 1974 as a teenager, parsed to myself who I thought GRS was as a man. Going out and finding all his works over the years since that first encounter filled in more for me. This book confirmed much of what I thought, but much of his early and later years as revealed in this wonderful book came as a revelation to me. As a boy in San Francisco my family went to Thorton Beach often and I remember seeing an old couple with family all about them one Thanksgiving weekend, and after reading this book I'm pretty sure I saw the man who would show me, through his words, how to view and respect this planet called Earth. (I think that, that moment is what the word serendipity is meant to convey)

George R. Stewart has been one of my favorite authors for years. As a long time Bay Area resident, his work especially resonates with me. This book on Stewart really explains the man and his work as well as his motivations for choosing his varied subject matter. One deficiency is that the author could have elaborated a little bit more about Earth Abides, Stewart's most popular work.

Wonderful bio on a great author!

I like most of Stewarts writing,and have long wanted to know more about hIm. This biography is what I wanted and more. It is well written, has a good bibliography and a good list of Stewar's works, I will be reccomending it to others who I know like Stewart.

Don Scott is one of the best remaining storytellers, and this one's in print.  The Life and Truth of George R. Stewart: A Literary Biography of the Author of Earth Abides  is not only interesting, it's a good read.

Very Well done Mr. Scott! I have been a fan of George R. Stewart's (GRS) works for almost 50 years and was delighted to see that someone had produced a biography. I think Mr. Scott was careful not to write better than GRS, but this background of Mr. Stewart captured well, the history, the challenges, the passions, and best of all some of the undocumented details of how most of GRS's writings came to be. His tone was honoring and often felt like two friends discussing a mutually read book that both loved. I was particularly thankful for his discussion of "Earth Abides" and "Sheep Rock", two fictional stories that opened up new ways of telling stories. I would now offer, if you are a GRS fan, you really need to read this biography. You will meet Ted , Mr. Stewart's wife and learn about the wonderful relationship between these two wonderful people.I'm fortunate enough to say that I met the Stewarts at their home in San Francisco not long before we lost them. It's too bad I can't go back now for a follow-up visit because I would like to tell them that they really do need to check out their story as told by their friend, Mr. Scott because they would be very pleased with the balance and scope of this work.So yes, very swell done Mr. Scott and thank you for capturing it for us.