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The Great Plains were once among the greatest grasslands on the planet. But as the United States and Canada grew westward, the Plains were plowed up, fenced in, overgrazed, and otherwise degraded. Today, this fragmented landscape is the most endangered and least protected ecosystem in North America. But all is not lost on the prairie. Through lyrical photographs, essays, historical images, and maps, this beautifully illustrated book gets beneath the surface of the Plains, revealing the lingering wild that still survives and whose diverse natural communities, native creatures, migratory traditions, and natural systems together create one vast and extraordinary whole.

Three broad geographic regions in Great Plains are covered in detail, evoked in the unforgettable and often haunting images taken by Michael Forsberg. Between the fall of 2005 and the winter of 2008, Forsberg traveled roughly 100,000 miles across 12 states and three provinces, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, to complete the fieldwork for this project, underwritten by The Nature Conservancy. Complementing Forsberg's images and firsthand accounts are essays by Great Plains scholar David Wishart and acclaimed writer Dan O'Brien. Each section of the book begins with a thorough overview by Wishart, while O'Brien – a wildlife biologist as well as a writer – uses his powerful literary voice to put the Great Plains into a human context, connecting their natural history with man's uses and abuses.

The Great Plains are a dynamic but often forgotten landscape – overlooked, undervalued, misunderstood, and in desperate need of conservation. This book helps lead the way forward, informing and inspiring readers to recognize the wild spirit and splendor of this irreplaceable part of the planet.

 

"The Great Plains of America are not for sissies, but those who respond to their haunting beauty will not be driven off. The photographer Michael Forsberg and three of his writing friends show why. Forsberg has spent a long time looking at the Great Plains and now he has shared what he saw."
- Larry McMurtry, author of Lonesome Dove

"Great Plains strikes me as a signal event in the history of American publishing, a true event where the authors Ted Kooser, David Wishart, Dan O'Brien and simply fabulous photographer, Michael Forsberg, are a perfectly graceful mix. Having criss-crossed this area dozens of times it was wonderful to see my grand memories between covers."
- Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall

"This is an invaluable book for those who already love the Great Plains, but it is an important book for those who have not considered the importance of the Plains in America's ecosystem. The area has been called America's Outback, but this beautiful book should make it accessible to anyone."
- Kathleen Norris, author of The Cloister Walk and Dakota

"The prairie is a minimalist landscape, anything but flashy. Forsberg's discerning eye frames its sparse beauty in all its exquisite detail and lovely sweep. To spend time with this book is to understand why the Great Plains matter."
- Chris Johns, editor, National Geographic Magazine

"For those of us who are native to the prairie, it is a rare experience to find our home evoked so vividly by words and photographs. Great Plains is a stunning and masterful depiction of this vast area, its history and its challenges. We are impressed by the Rockies to our west, but the prairie makes our hearts dance, makes our souls want to sing."
- Dale Lasater, Managing Partner, The Lasater Ranch, Matheson, CO

"The photos by Forsberg and essays by O’Brien provide an exceptional view of the conservation challenges in the Great Plains and strong visceral justification for why finding solutions is the only option. Anyone who erroneously believes that the Plains lack natural beauty and want for inspiring views will be won over as soon as they open the cover of this book."
- Scott Stephens, Great Plains Regional Office, Ducks Unlimited

"The beauty and majesty of the Great Plains come alive in the pages of this magnificent book. As a native of Nebraska, I know how little most Americans know about the landscape, wildlife and history of this vast part of our country. Here, they can appreciate the plains states in all their quiet glory."
- James V. Risser, two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and environmental reporting awards.

 

This much anticipated, large format (12" x 11") book contains over 150 original photographs by photographer Michael Forsberg, and essays by Dan O'Brien, chapter introductions by David Wishart, foreword by Ted Kooser.

Published by the University of Chicago Press. 1-800-621-2736.
Hard cover. 260 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-25725-9
Cloth $45.00
Release date: October 2009.

 

Great Plains: The Exhibition
We are also creating a 60 piece exhibition of photographs and text panels, that will premiere at the JOSLYN ART MUSEUM in Omaha, Nebraska in early 2010.

 

MICHAEL FORSBERG is a conservation photographer recognized for his work with Sandhill Cranes and on the Great Plains.

His first book was the award-winning On Ancient Wings - The Sandhill Cranes of North America.

Mike is a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers and the North American Nature Photogprapher's Association. See his bio at About Mike.

Here in Nebraska, we think everyone knows who TED KOOSER is!

But just in case – our very own Ted was a two-time U.S. Poet Laureate (2004 -06). This is, of course, in addition to a long list of other accomplishments; including many volumes of poetry, prose and awards too numerous to mention here.

Learn more about Ted at www.tedkooser.net

Visit this link at NPR for a 2005 interview with Ted.

Dr. DAVID WISHART is a Great Plains scholar, Geography professor and former chair of the department of Anthropology and Geography at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

His accomplishments includeThe Encyclopedia of the Great Plains, The Encyclopdia of the Great Plains Indians, and Human Geography: People, Places.

David's profile page on UNL's website. You can find many of his book with the University of Nebraska Press.