Perspective

Wallace Stegner writes about John Wesley Powell, but chose to focus on the career and work of the man rather than concentrate on the man's personality. Instead of the traditional biography that begins with the subject's birth and includes all significant events of life such as childhood, ancestry, marriage, and children, Stegner highlights only those particulars of Powell's life that have bearing on his legacy of government service.

Stegner's portrayal of Powell is based on facts and consistently backed through an extensive addendum of notes. Yet it is clear that Stegner admired his subject and there is an economy of words when he is required to describe the background of those who opposed Powell.

Stegner is known for the vast amount of research he undertakes when writing his fictional novels and it is likely he came upon the results of Powell's work when researching some of his other...