Books › Death in Yellowstone
Death in Yellowstone
First published 1995 · 276 pages
A sobering, morbidly fascinating catalog of human encounters with an unforgiving wilderness.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting around a campfire listening to a seasoned park ranger share their darkest, most cautionary tales. The pace is brisk and episodic, moving methodically through a staggering catalog of human folly and natural disaster. Despite the grim subject matter, the tone remains objective and deeply respectful, avoiding cheap sensationalism in favor of meticulous historical record. The mood is undeniably sobering, stripping away the romanticized veneer of the great outdoors to reveal a landscape that is as indifferent as it is beautiful. It is a morbidly fascinating read that will delight fans of dark history and survival narratives, leaving you with a profound, lingering respect for the untamed power of the wilderness.
- Mood
- unsettling
- awe-inspiring
- sobering
- eerie
- Tone
- matter-of-fact
- cautionary
- objective
- morbidly fascinating
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the indifference of nature · human hubris · the illusion of safety · sublime terror · historical tragedy
- The writing
- Straightforward, meticulously researched, and journalistic, prioritizing clear historical record over sensationalism.
- The arc
- Moves from morbid curiosity to a profound, sobering respect for the untamed power of the natural world.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love dark history, cautionary tales, and the intersection of human folly and raw nature.
Content notes
- graphic injuries
- animal attacks
- fatal accidents
- drowning
- burns
About the book
Yellowstone National Park has a long history of deaths by everything from earthquakes to bear attacks, poison gas, and lightning. Since 1870 there have been 300 deaths, all brought together in this fascinating book by a long-time chronicler of Yellowstone's history.
Description from Open Library.
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