Surveying the Interior: Literary Cartographers and the Sense of Place

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Exploring the intersection of geography and imagination, the book delves into how four American literary figures—Thoreau, King, Powell, and Stegner—engaged with the concept of mapping landscapes. Each author approached the physical world uniquely: Thoreau sought deeper truths, King focused on perception, Powell applied scientific methods, and Stegner examined ethical considerations in representation. Through their works, the narrative reveals how cartography influenced the American sense of place, intertwining intellectual and emotional responses that shape the literary tradition.