Many of the world’s major cities sprang up on the banks of rivers. Used for water, food, irrigation, transportation, and power, rivers sustain life and connect the world together, but most of us think of them simply as waterways that must be crossed on the way to another place. Using four European and two North American rivers as examples, A Story of Six Rivers considers the place of rivers in our world and emphasizes the inextricable links between history, culture, and ecology. Peter Coates explores six rivers, chosen as examples of the types of rivers found on the planet: the Danube, the second-longest river in Europe; the Spree, which flows through Berlin; the Po, which cuts eastward across northern Italy; the Mersey in northwest England; the Yukon, which runs through Canada and Alaska; and the Los Angeles in California. Creating a series of river biographies, Coates gives voice to each of these bodies of water, exploring how rivers nurture us, provide cultural and economic opportunities, and pose threats to our everyday lives. He challenges recent narratives that paint rivers as the victims of abuse, pollution, and damage at the hands of humans, focusing on change rather than devastation. Describing how humans and rivers form a symbiotic—and sometimes mutually destructive—relationship, Coates argues that rivers illustrate the limits of human authority and that their capacity to inspire us is as strong as our ability to pollute them. An intimate portrait of the way these bodies of water inform our lives, A Story of Six Rivers will make us reconsider the streams and tributaries we traverse each day.

Daniel McCool chronicles the surging grassroots movement to bring America's rivers back to life and ensure they remain pristine for future generations. This book confirms the surprising news that America's rivers are indeed returning to a healthier, free-flowing condition. Through passion and dedication, ordinary people are reclaiming the American landscape, forming a nation-wide "river republic" of concerned citizens from all backgrounds and sectors of society. McCool profiles the individuals he calls "instigators," who initiated the fight for these waterways and have succeeded in the near-impossible task of challenging and changing the status quo. He ties the history, culture, and fate of America to its rivers and presents their restoration as a microcosm mirroring American beliefs, livelihoods, and an increasing awareness of our shared environmental fate.

Poetry. Asian American Studies. Jenna Le's debut book is a meditation on love and life, as refracted through the waters of six rivers, ranging from the mighty Mississippi River to the gloomy River Styx. Inspired by her experiences as a Vietnamese-American woman who earned a degree in mathematics before becoming a physician, these poems are sometimes autobiographical, sometimes based on flights of imagination. Peopled by a diverse array of characters drawn from the pages of history and mythology (including the computer programmer Ada Lovelace and the sculptor Louise Bourgeois), and displaying familiarity with a broad gamut of forms ranging from the European sonnet to the Asian haibun, this sensual and often funny book introduces a strong, original new voice in poetry.

"Orignially published in 1978 by The Viking Press"--Copyright page.

The name of Soma·deva's eleventh-century Ocean of the Rivers of Stories is no boast: in more than 20,000 verses it tells more than 250 tales. The reader has only to enjoy being swept away in the flood of stories, said to spring from that source of so much classical Indian literature, "The Long Story"--Publisher description.

DID THE GREAT FLOOD OF INDIAN LEGEND ACTUALLY HAPPEN? WHY DID THE BUDDHA WALK TO SARNATH TO GIVE HIS FIRST SERMON? HOW DID THE EUROPEANS MAP INDIA? The history of any country begins with its geography. With sparkling wit and intelligence, Sanjeev Sanyal sets off to explore India and look at how the country’s history was shaped by, among other things, its rivers, mountains and cities. Traversing remote mountain passes, visiting ancient archaeological sites, crossing rivers in shaky boats and immersing himself in old records and manuscripts, he considers questions about Indian history that we rarely ask: Why do Indians call their country Bharat? How did the British build the railways across the subcontinent? Why was the world’s highest mountain named after George Everest? Moving from the geological beginnings of the subcontinent to present-day Gurgaon, Land of the Seven Rivers is riveting, wry and full of surprises. It is the most entertaining history of India you will ever read.

Song of Six Rivers is a book-length poem memorializing the Humboldt Bay/Six Rivers area. The book takes a bioregional approach to the geography and history of the Humboldt environs. It addresses why we are here as human beings and, more personally, the author's own journey as a poet and teacher of poetry. The book contains images from the HSU Humboldt Room and local photographers that capture that stunning beauty of Humboldt County.

A woman rises out of poverty to rule a family dynasty, in this extravagant Southern tale of greed and manipulation by a "New York Times"-bestselling author.

If he was reincarnated today, Captain Meriwether Lewis could retrace the journey that his Lewis & Clark expedition made two centuries ago. Within hours he would shake his head in confusion and surprise. What became of the Missouri, Yellowstone, and Columbia rivers he traveled along? The answers come alive when told by those who live along these waterways. Following Lewis and Clark's route, author Tom Mullen spent five months exploring the Missouri, Yellowstone, and Columbia rivers. This book tells of his surprising discoveries in a landscape peppered by colorful characters, barge pilots, engineers, and biologists, and their determination to improve American rivers. This travelogue is a refreshing blend of quirky history, intriguing stories, and candid conversation from off the beaten trail.