Walking in the Land of Many Gods: Remembering Sacred Reason in Contemporary Environmental Literature

Praise, Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

Praise for Walking in the Land of Many Gods “With compassion and love—emee’ih eh ah’moo’oh nhiyah in the Acoma Pueblo language— we are within sacred reason when we sincerely and fully participate in the ecology of life, i.e., the organic forces of nature, Wohlpart observes in Walking in the Land of Many Gods. And he confirms and affirms this teaching by the questioning yet insightful articulation offered by Linda Hogan, Terry Tempest Williams, and Janisse Ray to help us realize it is possible to attain beneficial communion with sacred Mother Earth. And with some help from Martin Heidegger also. Thank you—Dawaa-eh—for the knowledge!” —Simon J. Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo author of Woven Stone, Out There Somewhere, from Sand Creek “A. James Wohlpart has given us a lucid, large-spirited study of environmental literature that contributes directly to a central issue in contemporary ecocriticism: how to understand humanity’s fundamental connectedness to the world. Wohlpart embraces this conundrum with eloquence, optimism, and an enthusiastic sense of mystery. His emphasis on spirituality and ‘sacred reason’ is a particularly valuable addition to the current conversation about ecomaterialism.” —Scott Slovic, University of Idaho, editor of ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment “A. James Wohlpart both carries out highly perceptive readings of Janisse Ray, Terry Tempest Williams, and Linda Hogan and makes his own valuable contributions to the broader project that their books serve. Central to his discussion is the importance of ‘sacred reason,’ which he defines as an ecological model for relationship and healing. Just as this concept reinforces the ceremonial intentions of the authors on whom he focuses, so too does it help him explain how both caring for the land and writing can offer ways to ‘re/place’ ourselves in the intricacy and wholeness of this world.” —John Elder, Imagining the Earth “An innovative ecocritical study, Walking in the Land of Many Gods makes a real contribution to our understanding of contemporary environmental literature and to our current environmental situation. Wohlpart articulates an alternative view of the human place in the world, suggesting ways we can live richer and more ecologically sustainable lives.” —Philip Cafaro, Thoreau’s Living Ethics: Walden and the Pursuit of Virtue This page intentionally left blank Walking in the Land of Many Gods TH E UN IVE RS ITY OF GEORGIA PRESS 2013 This page intentionally left blank Walking in the Land of Many Gods Remembering Sacred Reason in Contemporary Environmental Literature A. James Wohlpart The University of Georgia Press Athens and London © 2013 by the University of Georgia Press Athens, Georgia 30602 www.ugapress.org All rights reserved Designed by Kaelin Chappell Broaddus Set in by 10/13 Dante MT Std. Manufactured by Thomson-Shore, Inc. The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. Printed in the United States of America 13 14 15 16 17 p 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wohlpart, A. James, 1964– Walking in the land of many gods : remembering sacred reason in contemporary environmental literature / A. James Wohlpart. pages cm Includes bibliographical references. isbn 978-0-8203-4523-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) — isbn 0-8203-4523-7 (hardcover : alk. paper) isbn 978-0-8203-4524-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) — isbn 0-8203-4524-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. American literature—History and criticism. 2. Environmental literature— History and criticism. 3. Ecocriticism. 4. Nature in literature in literature. 5. Human ecology in literature. 6. Ecology in literature. I. Title. ps169.e25.w64 2013 810.9’355—dc23 2012043942 British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available ISBN for digital edition: 978-0-8203-4587-1 This book is dedicated to my father, my elder, my friend, and my hiking partner, who introduced me to all my relations. This page intentionally left blank ...