Wilderness: A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska

240 Pages·1996·12.85 MB·English

by  Rockwell Kent

WILDERNESS
RO CKWELL
A L A S KA MCMXVIII
WILDERNESS
A JOURNAL OF QUIET ADVENTURE
IN ALASKA
BY ROCKWELL KENT
FOREWORD BY DOUG CAPRA
INCLUDING EXTENSIVE HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED
PASSAGES FROM THE ORIGINAL JOURNAL
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRESS
Middletown, Connecticut
Published by \\eslcyan University Press, \Iiddlelo\vn, C I 06459
www. wcsl c\ a n.eduAvcsprcss
,<•:'. 1996 bv \\eslevan Uni\ersitv Press
foreuord 'e: 1996 by Doug Capra
All rights reserved
Originally prodneed in 1996 bv Wcslevan/l hiiversitv Press of New England, I lanover, N'l I
03-55. Reprinted by arrangement with the Rockwell Kent I .egaeies from the 1970 edition
published b\ Ihe Wilderness Press. First published in 1920.
Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 54
ISBV-I}: 9-8-0-8195-5293-8
ISBN-lo: 0-8195-5293-3
Cover illustration: Rockwell Kent, Resurrection Bay, Alaska, 1965 from 1919 sketch. Oil
on canvas, 71 \ in. 8 cm. Gift of A'I'/ Travel, KRA 1 lelicopters. Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd I lines,
Bruce Kendall, and Alvcska Pipeline Service Coinpam. Anchorage Museum of History
and Art -3.3.1. Pliolo b\ Chris Arend.
Del ail of \laska Steamship Co. map on p. \\xiv origin all}' published in 1917 by Poole Bros.,
Chicago. Conrtesv of Dong Capra.
LIBRARY OF CONCRKSS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Kent. Rockwell, 1882-1971.
Wilderness: a journal of quiet adventure in Alaska /bv Rockwell Kent; Foreword by
Doug Oapra.
p. em.
Ongmallv published: Kcv. ed. Los Angeles: \\ilclerness Press, 19-0. \\ ifh ne\\ foreword.
ISBN 0-8195-5293-3 !alk. paper)
i. Renard Island (Alaska; — Description and travel. 2. Renard Island (Alaska1! m art.
3. Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971. 4. Artists—Alaska — Biography. I. Title.
i'9i2.R39K3 1996
917.98*4—dc20 95-45450
To old L. M. Olson and
young Rockwell Kent
of Fox Island
this journal is respectfully dedicated
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CONTENTS
List of Illustrations / ix
Foreword / xi
Preface / xxv
Second Preface / xxvii
Third Preface / xxix
Introduction to Alaska Drawings / xxxi
I. Discovery / 3
II. Arrival / 9
III. Chores / 31
IV. Winter / 63
V. Waiting / 79
VI. Excursion / 93
VII. Home / 99
VIII. Christmas / 121
IX. New Year / 139
X. Olson! / 161
XI. Twilight / 173
The Mad Hermit / 195
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ILLUSTRATIONS
"Zarathustra himself led the ugliest man by the
hand, in order to show him his night-world and
the great round moon and the silvery waterfalls
nigh unto his cave" / 5
Unknown Waters / 7
Home Building / n
Fire Wood / 13
The Sleeper / 17
The Windlass / 19
The Snow Queen / 22
Fox Island, Resurrection Bay,
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska / 25
Rain Torrents / 28
Day / 32
Night / 34
Wilderness / 39
One of Rockwell's Drawings / 40
Sunrise / 44
Adventure / 46
On the Height / 65
The Day's Work / 67
Meal Time / 72
Day's End / 74
Rockwell's Dream / 81
The Cabin Window / 87
"Go to Bed" / 89
Driftwood / 91
IX