The Oregon Desert facts for kids
.jpg)
The Oregon Desert front cover
|
|
| Author | E. R. Jackman and R. A. Long |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | South-central Oregon |
| Genre | History and natural history |
| Published | 1964 (Caxton Press) |
| Media type | Printed book |
| Pages | 407 |
| ISBN | 978-0870044342 |
| LC Class | 64-15389 |
The Oregon Desert is a non-fiction book about the high desert area in eastern Oregon. It tells the story of the people, animals, and plants of this unique region. The book combines serious science with real-life stories and funny tales. It was written by E. R. Jackman and R. A. Long. The book was first published in 1964 and has been popular ever since.
Contents
Meet the Authors
E. R. Jackman: The Science Expert
Edwin Russell (E.R.) Jackman was an expert in farming from Oregon. He worked for Oregon State University from 1929 to 1959. His job was to help farmers and ranchers learn about modern farming methods. He also taught them about using land wisely and protecting nature. His notes and photos about The Oregon Desert book are kept at Oregon State University.
R. A. Long: The Cowboy Storyteller
R. A. (Reub) Long was a rancher and a local historian from Fort Rock in southern Oregon. He was famous for being a "cowboy philosopher" and a great storyteller. He was also a member of Oregon's State Board of Agriculture. Reub Long even gave land to the state to create Fort Rock State Natural Area. Even today, many years after he passed away, Reub Long is still one of Oregon's most famous storytellers. This is partly thanks to how successful The Oregon Desert became.
How They Wrote the Book Together
Jackman and Long started working together on projects to protect nature in the 1940s. This work led to a strong friendship that lasted their whole lives. In 1964, they decided to write The Oregon Desert. This book was about the natural history and the people of Oregon's high desert. The publisher, Caxton Press, said that Reub Long "thinks like a scientist," and E. R. Jackman "thinks like a cowboy." They worked together to create a book full of history, local stories, and humor about this special part of the American West.
What's Inside The Oregon Desert?
The Oregon Desert explores the people, places, plants, and animals of Oregon's high desert. Jackman wrote the more academic parts of the book. These sections cover topics like geology (how the land was formed), geography (the features of the land), and the plants and animals. He also wrote about the life of Native Americans in the high desert.
Long added his own stories about living in the high desert. These stories are often funny and based on his real experiences. Oregon Public Broadcasting said the book "successfully blended natural science with cowboy humor." It's a book that celebrates the way people tell stories in the rural West.
Exploring the Chapters
The Oregon Desert is a big book with 407 pages. It has 118 photos and drawings. The book is divided into 23 chapters. It also has nine short extra sections called appendices and an Index at the very end.
The chapters cover many different topics about the high desert:
- Some chapters introduce the high desert and tell about Reub Long's childhood experiences.
- Other chapters share stories about the early settlers, called homesteaders, and the challenges they faced.
- There are chapters all about horses, including wild horses and cowboy life.
- You'll find stories about sheep herders, including those from Irish and Basque backgrounds.
- The book also teaches about Native American life in the desert.
- Several chapters focus on desert animals like coyotes, small mammals, and larger animals like badgers and skunks. There's even a funny look at mule deer hunters.
- Long shares humorous stories about his experiences with cattle ranching, trapping, driving freight wagons, and even working as a dude wrangler for movies.
- Jackman wrote about desert plants and how to protect the land's natural environment.
- The book also talks about the small towns that grew up in the desert and the vital importance of water.
- Finally, there are chapters that point out interesting geological spots and share Reub Long's wise and witty thoughts from his many years in the high desert.
Jackman was the main writer of the book. Long was a storyteller, so he told his stories to Jackman. Then, Jackman wrote them down and put the whole book together for publishing.
The extra sections (appendices) at the end of the book include interesting facts. They explain Spanish words used in the book, how many horses were in Oregon over time, and where Reub Long caught wild horses. They also explain cowboy words, cattle brands, how the word "coyote" is used, and different life zones in Oregon. You can also learn about bobcat food and desert ghost towns.
What People Think About the Book
Since it was first released in 1964, The Oregon Desert has received great reviews. On October 7, 1964, the Eugene Register-Guard newspaper said:
This is the finest book written about our region in many years. It should be in every library in the Northwest and makes an especially fine gift.
In 2009, to celebrate Oregon's 150th birthday, the Oregon State Library suggested 150 important books about Oregon. The Oregon Desert was one of them. The Oregon State Library called it "a classic account of the places, events, animals and people in the High Desert region."
The Oregon Blue Book, which is an official guide to Oregon, also highlighted The Oregon Desert. It quoted from Google Books, saying:
Wild horses run through this book. All of the desert animals shyly peek out from its pages. Desert towns spring to life before your eyes and swiftly decay. Stories of life on the desert are told with deep subtle humor, wisdom, and charm, producing a delightful book.
How the Book Was Published
The Oregon Desert is published by Caxton Press, located in Caldwell, Idaho. The book first came out in 1964. It has been so popular that it has never stopped being printed since then. As of 2003, the book has been printed 14 times. The University of Nebraska Press helps distribute the 2003 edition for Caxton Press.
