The Last Prairie: A Sandhills Journal

In the great tradition of Abbey's Desert Solitaire and some of Muir's writings comes this gem of a book from Stephen Jones, a biologist who fell in love with the Sandhills region of Nebraska as a boy and continues to visit, explore, and cherish this wild, remote place as an adult. The Sandhills are little known to those outside Nebraska, partly because they "support more pelicans than people." There is a deeply poetic sense to this "journal," which is divided into short chapters on different themes. I have rarely encountered a book suffused with more love and warmth, and a deep sense of place in every sense of the word, than this book. As a biologist, Stephen is a keen observer of the land, what lies beneath it, what grows in it, and what moves over it. His writing is very tactile: we see the curlew, we hear the buzz of mosquitos, we feel the wind in his descriptions, we taste the catfish stew. His approach to this book is so thoughtful and comprehensive and revealed in wonderful details that help us learn about this unique place: every chapter begins with a quotation, often from a Native American leader. His deep respect for the disappearing history of the place (both native and ranchers) comes through on every page. The Bibliographic Essay at the end is a wonderful compendium of additional sources. It is an essay rather than a list, seemingly because Stephen could not stop himself from continuing to write about this special place, even after the last chapter was finished. I learned a lot, but also felt such a yearning after reading this book, to go exploring in the Sandhills and camp out "alone" in the hills under the stars, with the multitudinous plants and animals for company.

The Sandhills of western Nebraska stretch two hundred miles from west to east and one hundred miles from south to north, from the Platte River in central Nebraska to the Niobrara River near the South Dakota border. They contain the largest remaining relict of the grasslands that once covered the Great Plains of North America. The name comes from the fact that the hills are mostly comprised of sand; they are the largest area of grass-stabilized dunes in the Western Hemisphere. Perhaps the most surprising feature of the Sandhills is that they are studded with lakes and fens: most lie in the valleys between dunes; many were created during periods of drought when drifting dunes blocked creek drainages. Due to the largely uncultivated grasslands and the numerous water holes, the Sandhills is one of the most important remaining havens for wildlife in the United States.THE LAST PRAIRIE is a fine introduction to the Sandhills - readable, knowledgeable, and non-academic. It was first published in 2000, and is based on years of travels and camping throughout the Sandhills by Stephen Jones. The book is roughly equal parts natural history, history, ethnography (tales and customs of the Native American tribes that once called the area home), and a travelogue. Among the subjects discussed are sandhill cranes, grasshoppers, sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens, lakes and sandhill fens, Jules Sandoz and Mari Sandoz, and the Battle of the Blue Water (one of the least known or remembered U.S. Army massacres of Indians).As of 2000 the Sandhills were in relatively good condition; Jones refers to it as "one of North America's best preserved landscapes." But he also expresses concerns over the prospects of change and development. Twelve years have now passed, and an outsider like me would like to know what changes have occurred and whether or not they appear to have been for the long-term good of the Sandhills. That's the only weakness of THE LAST PRAIRIE: it is now (perhaps) a tad dated. I feel an urge to go there and see things for myself.

I loved this fine little book about the Nebraska Sandhills. I became interested in that area after reading Mari Sandoz' books some years back then reading some of them again this year. This book, "The Last Prairie", has added to that knowledge regarding Nebraska. I also traveled through that area some years back and liked it very much.Since I am a Texan and lived in the Sandhills area of Texas for 25 years, I developed a love of the prairies and deserts with sandhills. Since we made the mistake of moving back to the High Plains of Texas I have missed that part of the state very much, and still enjoy reading about the special beauty of the sandhills and its flora and fauna in other parts of the country.I recommend THE LAST PRAIRIE; A SANDHILLS JOURNAL very highly for it knowledge, its warmth, and the good research. Billie Freeman

While I was looking for a photographic guide to the Sandhills, this is nevertheless a wonderful description of the state of this prairie. Definitely glad I purchased it, it widened my horizons.

Makes me want to go there.

Fascinating for ecology, biology, history, and the sense of being there. Mr. Jones loves the prairie and shows us why. Best of all, you'll love it too. It's a rare author who can take us somewhere we've never been and give us the (almost) complete experience as this man does. He certainly showed me things I'd never see on my own.Highly recommended

I've given out several as gifts and they're well done and well received for those who love this part of the world.

I love this. Feel like I'm wandering the lonely Sandhills as I read it.