"A fine piece of work and a great delight." —John McPhee
In 1883, journalist and outdoorsman George Washington Sears (“Nessmuk”) paddled his 9-foot, 10½-pound canoe, the Sairy Gamp, 266 miles through the central Adirondacks. A little over a hundred years later, author Christine Jerome retraced his journey in a Kevlar version of the Sairy. The result is a rich, eloquent narrative that weaves Nessmuk’s story with Jerome’s and intersperses Adirondack natural and cultural history.
“An enchanting record of a canoe trip.” —The New Yorker
“A writer of fine and watertight prose. . . . An Adirondack Passage is uncategorizable—at once history, naturalism, sociology, and a love story—but unfailingly graceful.” —Boston Globe
“Personal, witty, and thoughtful—one of the best introductions to the area ever produced.” —Audubon
“As refreshing a break from the busyness of life as I’ve come across in awhile.” —Newsday
“The writing . . . is a constant pleasure. Jerome has a style that suits her subject, quiet and gentle as a paddle in still water. She delivers her lore with wit and whimsy, with fine descriptions and without shrill preaching or righteous posturing.” —Smithsonian
“The closest thing to a national nonfiction best-seller that the region has seen in ages, and deservedly so.” —Adirondack Life
“A captivating account. . . . She takes us into a world of hermits and millionaires, of wild streams and glorious mountain scenery.” —Publishers Weekly
“A delightful tale. . . . An informative, readable adventure whose history and environmental lessons are taught well.” —Library Journal