Wilderness

Wilderness chronicles artist Rockwell Kent's time living on Fox Island in Alaska's Resurrection Bay during the winter of 1918-1919. Kent traveled there with his nine-year-old son, settling into a small cabin and attempting to paint while surviving the harsh northern environment. The narrative follows their daily experiences on the remote island, from practical challenges of securing food and staying warm to Kent's artistic pursuits amid the dramatic Alaskan landscape. Through journal-style observations, Kent documents their interactions with the few neighbors on nearby islands and their growing connection to the natural world. This memoir combines Kent's writing with his stark black and white illustrations, capturing both the physical reality and the psychological experience of choosing isolation in an extreme environment. The book explores themes of self-reliance, the relationship between art and nature, and the complex motivations that drive people to seek solitude in wilderness spaces.

Readers describe Kent's account of solitary life in Alaska as contemplative and raw. His detailed illustrations and woodcuts receive praise for capturing the stark beauty of the wilderness. Readers appreciate: - Blend of practical survival details with philosophical musings - Quality of the artwork and sketches - Honest portrayal of loneliness and isolation - Descriptions of the natural environment Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Self-absorbed narrative tone - Limited interaction with other characters - Some find his writing style pretentious Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (229 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (31 ratings) From reviews: "The illustrations alone make this worth reading" - Goodreads reviewer "Beautiful but occasionally plodding" - Amazon reviewer "His artwork outshines his writing" - LibraryThing review "Captures both the appeal and harshness of solitude" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌲 After spending seven months alone on Fox Island, Alaska in 1918-1919, Rockwell Kent wrote and illustrated "Wilderness" entirely from memory once he returned home to New York. 🎨 Kent was primarily known as an artist and printmaker, with his distinctive Art Deco-influenced illustrations appearing in classic editions of Moby Dick, The Canterbury Tales, and Shakespeare. 🏠 The cabin Kent stayed in on Fox Island still stands today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, though it's now privately owned and not open to visitors. 🌊 During his Alaska sojourn, Kent survived by fishing, hunting, and chopping wood, while creating numerous paintings and sketches that would later influence his artistic career. 📖 The book's original 1920 publication included 32 of Kent's own drawings, making it both a literary and artistic achievement that helped establish his reputation as a wilderness artist.