Alaska (on the Road Histories) - (On-The-Road Histories) by Ryan Madden (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The word Alaska conjures romantic images of the frozen north--igloos, dog sleds, giant bears, endless tundra--and with these images, a sense of physical extremity: our biggest state, our northernmost state, our highest mountains, our lowest temperatures. In parts of Alaska, the sun never goes down in the summer and never comes up in the winter. But alongside the natural beauty and stark physical majesty is an interesting and complex human history thousands of years old and full of interactions between different peoples and cultures. Alaska Natives, Russians, French, Spanish, English, Americans, Canadians, and Japanese have all staked a claim in this Northern land. In this On-the-Road History, Ryan Madden first explores Alaska Native cultures, then moves to the Russian influence, the early American period and the influence of gold, and finally, Alaska in the 20th century, with the impact of World War II, statehood, and the oil boom.

Review Quotes

"...'On-the-Road Histories' can add depth and context to your wanderings. Each book includes extensive local histories, along with descriptions of must-see sites and trivia about local claims to fame"an excellent way to get to know the state."

"The popular 'On-the-Road Histories' series from Interlink Publishing offers colorful, heavily researched, cultural and historical guides to individual states."

About the Author

Raised in Palmer, Alaska, Ryan Madden is now an associate professor of history at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska. He has written about Alaska's native population and World War II.