The Mountains of California

John Muir’s first book, The Mountains of California, saw its beginnings as a series of essays written on his experiences in the California wilderness. In 1894, Muir created this book by assembling his essays. The primary figure of the book is not a person, but the mountains themselves; rather than emphasize the relationship between human beings and nature, Muir underscores the mountains in his work, so much so that the mountains become a sort of character in themselves. Like many of his other nature writings, Muir’s tone throughout this collection of essays is one of awe and reverence; the visible relationship that develops between the speaker and the earth becomes analogous to the relationship between man and God. The passion and excitement Muir developed in the book inspired many of his fellow Americans, and The Mountains of California was of vital importance in the propagation of the environmental movement in America.