Why did Patrick love this book?
Combine vivid descriptions of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River with the enthralling story of two under-recognized women botanists who went there in the 1930s—how can you go wrong?
People back then thought women would be unable to survive the rapids of the Colorado, much less do groundbreaking science in the canyon. Sevigny’s protagonists, however, did both, with historic results.
Brave the Wild River is adventure, biography, and natural history in a compelling mix.
3 authors picked Brave the Wild River as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
In the summer of 1938, botanists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter set off down the Colorado River, accompanied by an ambitious expedition leader and three amateur boatmen. With its churning rapids, sheer cliffs and boat-shattering boulders, the Colorado River was famed as the most dangerous river in the world. But for Clover and Jotter, it held a tantalising appeal: no one had surveyed the Grand Canyon's plants, and they were determined to be the first.
Through the vibrant letters and diaries of the two women, science journalist Melissa L. Sevigny traces their forty-three-day journey, during which they ran rapids, chased…