Major John Wesley Powell

John Wesley Powell is the main character in this book as it is his career of public service to the government of the United States that Stegner has chosen to write about. Powell is a simple man whose work ethic and pursuit of knowledge as an amateur scientist and explorer contributed to the expansion and development of the American West, specifically, the Grand Canyon area.

This book coves the career of Major Powell, beginning with his early attempts to become a scientist, although he did not have the funds to participate in the traditional university education. Powell learned where he could, and applied his ordered methods and pracitcal routines to every job and expedition he undertook. Beginning as an explorer with limited funds, he continually found ways to meet the appropriate people for funding and publicity, continued on a deterimined path, began huge projects with...