Here are ten classic books that capture the essence of Alaska, its rugged landscape, and the spirit of its people:
White Fang by Jack London (1906) (Novel) The story of a wolf-dog’s journey from ferocity to domestication in the harsh Alaskan wilds.
Two in the Far North by Margaret Murie (1962) A memoir of adventure and environmental exploration in Alaska.
One Man’s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey is a book, first published in 1973, by Sam Keith, based on the journals and photography of Richard Proenneke who, in 1968, retreated to the wilderness of Twin Lakes in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska to build a home for himself and live alone in the wilderness.
Coming into the Country by John McPhee (1976) (Non Fiction) A thoughtful exploration of life and land in Alaska.
Tisha: The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness by Robert Specht (1976) (Non Fiction) The story of a young teacher who moves to a remote Alaskan village in the 1920s.
Shadows on the Koyukuk: An Alaskan Native’s Life Along the River by Sidney Huntington (1993) The autobiography of a Koyukon Athabaskan man, recounting his life in Alaska’s wilderness.
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1996) The true story of Christopher McCandless, who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness seeking adventure.
Alaska: A History by Walter R. Borneman (2003) A comprehensive history of Alaska, from its indigenous roots to statehood.
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (2012) A magical realism novel inspired by Alaskan folklore, set in the 1920s frontier.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (2018) (Novel) A family’s survival in remote Alaska during the 1970s.
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