John McPhee

John McPhee is the author of The Control of Nature. McPhee is an important character in each section of the historical novel. He is an investigative reporter that visits all the geographical regions. McPhee meets and interviews all the other characters. He explores each region with the guidance of another character native to the region. He selects and writes about significant events and characteristics of the regions he explores. McPhee includes himself in the work as another character. The author writes in the first person pronoun to describe his thoughts and action. He is sympathetic to the natural order. He presents a somewhat neutral and objective view of man's attempts to control nature.

McPhee is an historian in Atchafalaya. He describes and discusses the history and development of southern Louisiana. He travels in the Mississippi towboat and talks with the dignitaries on board. McPhee spends a day...